Schools

School Board Members Impressed by Annandale Study Options

Annandale area representatives participated in a community dialogue meeting on Monday with parents

This is part two of our recap from Monday's community dialogue meeting about the four options for the Annandale Regional Study. You can .

While parents may not have been thrilled with the options, school board representatives Sandy Evans (Mason District) and Tessie Wilson (Braddock District) said they were pleased with what they heard at the meeting.

“I was so very impressed with the thoughtful discussion that I heard going on last night, and so proud of my community for the openness and civility with which they treated each others views,” said Evans via e-mail to Annandale Patch about the meeting. “This gives us a basis for discussing community priorities as we figure out the best way to solve Annandale’s overcrowding problems as well as the best way to create our brand-new elementary school at the Lacey Center site.”

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Wilson agreed, applauding everyone who worked on the options and gave their input for the study. “This is only the second time we have used this particular meeting format. After a somewhat rough beginning with the southwest boundary study, I think we have worked out most of the 'bugs' and are developing a process which truly lets the public be engaged,” said Wilson.

Part of the benefit of the small group format used at Monday’s meeting is to allow parents the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to school board members who are scheduled to take action on solutions at their meeting on July 28. Right now, Wilson said she’s still in “listening mode”.

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“All too often, the School Board is accused of having already made up their minds on boundary issues, and the community meetings are just ‘window dressing.’ That is definitely not the case – and I am still exploring possible improvements to the scenarios,” said Wilson. “In fact, one parent offered a suggestion last night that neither staff nor I had considered. We will explore the idea. There are certainly parts of certain plans that I believe are more workable than others, but I’m not rejecting or endorsing any of the options at this point.”

All community feedback from the meetings will be used to create a recommendation the committee will present to the School Board at their June 23 meeting, followed by public hearings on July 11-12.

Evans added that the school board has to option to take parts of each of the options in order to create a “logical solution” rather than choosing one of the options presented.

“Without taking a position on any one scenario, whatever combination we choose needs to provide true relief at AHS while keeping it the magical, vibrant school it is today,” said Evans.

The final decision by Evans and Wilson and their fellow school board members is important, but Annandale High School PTSA President Emily Slough said there’s more at stake than just solving overcrowding at .

“Decisions made by the School Board and Board of Supervisors have far more direct impact - on people’s lives, student educational opportunities and options, and on the broader community – than most people realize.,” said Slough. “Although this issue may appear to be just about Annandale High School and overcrowding, it is really about our broader community and the arbitrary nature of “boundary lines” and how they can redefine that community. “People who do not think this affects them should pay attention.”


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