Some Bailey’s Elementary students could attend school in an office building next fall
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| FCPS wants to retrofit this building for classrooms. |
At a contentious meeting at Bailey’s Elementary School Nov.
26, Fairfax County Public Schools officials outlined plans for using a vacant
office building to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s, beginning in
September 2014.
26, Fairfax County Public Schools officials outlined plans for using a vacant
office building to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s, beginning in
September 2014.
The five-story building at 6245 Leesburg Pike in Seven
Corners would serve about 400 to 500 students, possibly in grades 3, 4, and 5.
Corners would serve about 400 to 500 students, possibly in grades 3, 4, and 5.
There was a great deal of confusion over whether the office
building is a temporary or long-term solution and whether it is a replacement for
the new school to be funded by the bond referendum approved by voters last
month.
building is a temporary or long-term solution and whether it is a replacement for
the new school to be funded by the bond referendum approved by voters last
month.
“We were told every step of the way that the bond referendum
is separate and that there would be two schools,” said one member of the
audience. The $250 million bond includes $20.877 million for construction of a
new school in the Bailey’s area in 2017-18. Now, she said, FCPS is saying the
office building is being put forth as an alternative to the new school.
“There is a need for two schools, but the office building is
the only project being considered right now,” said Jeffrey Platenburg, chief
operating officer in charge of FCPS facilities and transportation, There isn’t any
available land or funding for a brand-new school, although FCPS is continuing
to explore other, longer-term solutions, he said.
the only project being considered right now,” said Jeffrey Platenburg, chief
operating officer in charge of FCPS facilities and transportation, There isn’t any
available land or funding for a brand-new school, although FCPS is continuing
to explore other, longer-term solutions, he said.
“We do need two schools,” Mason Supervisor Penny Gross
concurred, but a new school building is years away from being a reality. The
office building “is in the right place, and it’s available now.”
concurred, but a new school building is years away from being a reality. The
office building “is in the right place, and it’s available now.”
Bailey’s needs an urgent solution to deal with overcrowding
that has reached a crisis level. With 1,300 students, the school is at 160 percent of
capacity. In five years, enrollment is projected to reach 1,600. There are 19
trailers, and half the library has been converted to classrooms.
that has reached a crisis level. With 1,300 students, the school is at 160 percent of
capacity. In five years, enrollment is projected to reach 1,600. There are 19
trailers, and half the library has been converted to classrooms.
The bond money is the only school facilities funding
available funding available now, Platenburg said. None of the officials at the
meeting were prepared to say whether the entire $20 million in bond funds would be used for the office building project.
Renovating the building would cost $8-$9 million, said Kevin
Sneed, director of design and construction services at FCPS. Acquisition of
the office building is in negotiations, so it’s not known how much it will
cost, although it’s currently assessed at $8.3 million.
Sneed, director of design and construction services at FCPS. Acquisition of
the office building is in negotiations, so it’s not known how much it will
cost, although it’s currently assessed at $8.3 million.
When the FCPS officials told the audience that the
renovations will be limited to the interior of the building, several people
reacted angrily. What about the “curvy playground” and an enclosed “bubble” in
the parking lot housing a play area?, one parent asked. An illustration of
those features was included in a PowerPoint presentation shown at a Bailey’s
PTA meeting in September.
renovations will be limited to the interior of the building, several people
reacted angrily. What about the “curvy playground” and an enclosed “bubble” in
the parking lot housing a play area?, one parent asked. An illustration of
those features was included in a PowerPoint presentation shown at a Bailey’s
PTA meeting in September.
Several parents accused FCPS of sending mixed messages and
not being transparent.
not being transparent.
FCPS’s attorney working on this project, John McGranahan
Jr., of Hunton & Williams, said the land use approval process for
addressing changes to the outside of the building would take too long if the
building is to be ready for students next September.
Jr., of Hunton & Williams, said the land use approval process for
addressing changes to the outside of the building would take too long if the
building is to be ready for students next September.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to
determine at its Dec. 4 meeting whether the property, which is zoned for
commercial uses, can be used as a school. If the proposal is approved, the
school board will proceed with its plans to acquire the property, FCPS
instructional staff will determine what programs and grades the building will
serve, and the FCPS facilities staff will begin working with an architect to
design the interior.
determine at its Dec. 4 meeting whether the property, which is zoned for
commercial uses, can be used as a school. If the proposal is approved, the
school board will proceed with its plans to acquire the property, FCPS
instructional staff will determine what programs and grades the building will
serve, and the FCPS facilities staff will begin working with an architect to
design the interior.
Meanwhile, FCPS will also begin the rezoning and proffer
process necessary to gain approval for modifying the exterior and constructing
a playground and other outdoor facilities. “There is no way we could open next
September if we had to get approvals for modifying the outside,” said
McGranahan. There would be extensive public outreach meetings before changes
are made to the exterior.
process necessary to gain approval for modifying the exterior and constructing
a playground and other outdoor facilities. “There is no way we could open next
September if we had to get approvals for modifying the outside,” said
McGranahan. There would be extensive public outreach meetings before changes
are made to the exterior.
Before the interior is reconfigured for classrooms, FCPS
instructional officials will need to decide which programs and grade levels
will be housed in the building, Sneed said, although he thinks it makes sense
to put the upper grade levels there.
instructional officials will need to decide which programs and grade levels
will be housed in the building, Sneed said, although he thinks it makes sense
to put the upper grade levels there.
There will be space for music, science, art, and physical
activities, as well as classrooms, a cafeteria, and library, he said. Everything
inside, such as the lighting, floors, and walls, will be new. The exterior
would not be changed other than to possibly add some basketball hoops in the
parking lot.
activities, as well as classrooms, a cafeteria, and library, he said. Everything
inside, such as the lighting, floors, and walls, will be new. The exterior
would not be changed other than to possibly add some basketball hoops in the
parking lot.
“We’re at warp speed” on this project,” Platenburg said. “A lot
of stars need to align to get this open next fall.”
of stars need to align to get this open next fall.”
The office building project won’t have an immediate impact
on any other schools. “This project is solely aimed at addressing overcrowding
at Bailey’s,” said Mason school board member Sandy Evans.
on any other schools. “This project is solely aimed at addressing overcrowding
at Bailey’s,” said Mason school board member Sandy Evans.
Several years down the road when the land and money are
available for a new school, there would be a boundary adjustment affecting many
other schools. At that point, there would be an extensive outreach process to
solicit community input, Platenburg said.
available for a new school, there would be a boundary adjustment affecting many
other schools. At that point, there would be an extensive outreach process to
solicit community input, Platenburg said.
The Nov. 27 meeting was targeted to nearby residents, and
several people raised concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety issues.
several people raised concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety issues.
Sneed assured the residents that school buses won’t be
driving through their neighborhood. About 10 to 14 buses would serve the
new building. While the majority of students walk to Bailey’s, the new location
means a lot more of them will need to be bused.
driving through their neighborhood. About 10 to 14 buses would serve the
new building. While the majority of students walk to Bailey’s, the new location
means a lot more of them will need to be bused.
Gross noted there will be lot fewer vehicles at the
building if it’s used as a school than when it housed 400 Fairfax County employees
in several health and social services programs. The building has been vacant
since those offices moved to the Heritage complex on Little River Turnpike in
Annandale in 2012. Long-term plans call for those offices to be moved to a new county office building planned for Bailey’s Crossroads.
building if it’s used as a school than when it housed 400 Fairfax County employees
in several health and social services programs. The building has been vacant
since those offices moved to the Heritage complex on Little River Turnpike in
Annandale in 2012. Long-term plans call for those offices to be moved to a new county office building planned for Bailey’s Crossroads.
8 responses to “Some Bailey’s Elementary students could attend school in an office building next fall”
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If the kids do have to be stuck in a converted office building, the county might as well do it right and get some eminant domain going on that useless Sears next door for a new playground.
Sounds like a good idea. Where would extra land show up years from now. It is mostly filled up now.
So instead of enforcing the laws that the County has on the books we will be spending 8 to 9 million to maybe temporarily put kids in an office building. We could save our money make our schools less overcrowded by just enforcing the laws. Our County has kids living and sleeping in closets and dresser drawers but we ignore those issues now we are putting our children in an old office building instead of giving them the schools they deserve.
"Our County has kids living and sleeping in closets and dresser drawers "
it is indeed a bad thing that we have so little affordable housing. Or is that not what you meant? Where DO you think the poor should live? In DC and PG, I guess.
Is it safe to have a school located on a 6-lane major road?
Yes.
The only problem with this idea is the mental block many might have against an urban style school building. It seems like a great reuse for the structure and very cost effective. It should be viewed as a permanent solution, not simply an expensive qwonset hut until a more "traditional" building can be constructed. Done right, this will be a huge asset to the area, FCPS and a blueprint for future dense growth designs.
It's a problematic location in a commercial district with heavy traffic congestion at the 7 Corners intersection. It's also a smaller property than FCPS wants for it news urban vertical school model without adequate space for outdor play areas. It would be better for FCPS 1st attempt at the urban vertical school model if it was on a proper site and was planned/designed from the ground up instead of quickly retrofitting a commercial building.