Reston Citizen

Ken Plum, seen on the left participates in a rally for Stu Gibson, the school board member behind the boundary changes.

In an increasingly bitter debate on school boundary changes Virginia delegate Ken Plum (D-Reston) has contrasted the racist tones of concerned parents with the school integration debates ’70s. He also tells of South Lakes good side. While maybe exaggerated he still has a valid point:

One of the more memorable moments in recent Virginia history was recorded in a front-page New York Times photograph and story of Governor Lynwood Holton walking his daughter Tayloe into a predominately Black high school in Richmond in 1970 to enroll her for classes. His wife was at the same time enrolling their other daughter Anne and their son Woody in schools in which they were the only white children in their classes. Woody grew up to become a prominent author and historian, and his sister Anne is now First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Governor Holton took a bold leadership step to show folks that their fears about the integration of public schools were not well founded. He explained later that he felt integration of the schools was the morally right thing to do. After decades of lawsuits, our public schools are for the most part integrated. The worst fears of the consequences of integration were never realized. […]

The recent process the School Board has undertaken in our region to adjust boundaries has brought some of the feelings about our local schools into the open and exposed some biases that we may be surprised to learn continue to exist in our communities. In the process, South Lakes High School has gotten a bum rap.

Two [of our children] are school teachers, one is a lawyer, and one is an environmental inspector for local government. When we read what others are saying about Scout Lakes High School, we know they are seriously misinformed. Numerous studies have shown that the strength of a school is in its leadership, and South Lakes High School is filled with educational leaders. Principal Bruce Butler has been recognized by his peers with the Fairfax County First-Year Principal of the Year Award and has recently been named in the community as Citizen of the Year.

In other high school redistricting news, on January 14th at 7pm South Lakes will offer parents from other schools a  preview on South Lakes IB and AP offerings. The meeting will be held in the lecture hall, if you need more information contact the school.

From left to right, delegate Ken Plum, supervisor Catherine Hudgins, and school board member Stu Gibson. Photo courtesy Stu Gibson.

To late to halt proposed boundary changes, the Washington Examiner brings news of a petition calling for a recall election in the Hunter Mill school board race. Christine Arakelian, Stu Gibson’s challenger claims he “Illegally leaked information regarding her sons autism.”

The Virgina Board of Education found these claims true. Gibson rejects them saying “I never requested her student’s record,” and that Arakelian asked what could be done about her sons “double giftedness,” which apparently means he’s retarded (or to be politically correct, “learning disabled”) in some subjects, and excels in others. The information that Arakelian gave him was later reprinted in a newspaper article, and PTA newsletter.

A Google search revealed no other information about this petition. But that doesn’t spell an end to his troubles. All arguments his lawyer made in his support have been deemed “baseless” by the Virginia Board of Education, and potentially opens him up to federal investigation.

In liberal Fairfax County it seemed odd that parents where so quick to not want their kids to attended a “Socio-economic diversity experiment.” But apparently they’re also concerned that being in the South Lakes district will harm they’re real estate values. Now that it seems money is the issue, no wonder they’re fighting so hard.

And thanks to the Restonian blog for bringing this article to our attention.

Fairfax County sure has some sore losers. Just a week ago Garry Baise, who lost his bid for Gerry Connolly’s chairman seat, sued the federal government because of the aerial rail line through Tysons. Now Christine Arakelian, who also lost the 2007 election, has filed a complaint against Hunter Mill school board member Stu Gibson. The complaint alleges Gibson publicized private information about her child.

The Virginia Department of Education has made a ruling siding with Christine Arakelian, but it is non binding, and Arakelian has asked that he resign but has not decided if she will further pursue the matter. Fairfax County Public Schools has 30 days to appeal the ruling, but it is not known weather they would do so.

At stake is a claim that Gibson twice disclosed information about her child, who is enrolled in the public school system. One of the times he allegedly disclosed this information with an interview in the Fairfax Times. Gibson claims Arakelian disclosed the information to him when asking how the school system could best attend to the needs of her child who is what she calls “Learning disabled in some areas, and gifted and talented in others.” Gibson says he never requested information on Arakelian’s child from county records.

Gibson defeated Arakelian by about 60 points. Arakelian did best in precincts that felt they would be negatively affected by school redistricting that would redirect their children to South Lakes.

Fairfax County ultimately wants to be the best county for it’s residents so it’s not surprising that the County worked out a compromise between the four options it previously presented for school redistricting. Fairfax County Public Schools didn’t want overcrowding, but in redistricting they also tried to move as little people as possible.

Last the South Lakes PTSA presented, a 5th option, which disrupts the least amount of students and meets all of FCPS’ requirements for redistricting. It unites Navy, reduces commute time for the Fox Mill students, and removes the Madison Island. It also lowers the free lunch subsidy for South Lakes, which is used to measure a school’s poverty level. While option number 5 isn’t a final recommendation it probably illustrates what the school board will be likely to approve.

More than 2000 people attended last night’s boundary meeting, again exceeding estimates. The county asked that some people only submit written comments because there weren’t enough small group leaders. Some parents have changed strategy from complaining about their kids going to South Lakes, to complaints that “Low income students will be affected.”
Ultimately it seems as though the county already had decided about the boundary changes, it just ran the meetings to offer a Democratic forum for constituents. The new changes will only affect students rising into the 9th grade.

Four boundary options have been prepared for the upcoming school boundary meeting on December 3rd. If you’re new to this situation, Fairfax County is looking to move new students to different high schools to alleviate overcrowding in some, and help fill others with open seats.

Option 1 would move students from McNair and Floris elementary schools to South Lakes and Herndon. The move would initially affect a little over 100 students. The west end of the McNair and Floris schools would move to Herndon, while the east end would move to South Lakes. Oak Hill students would be moved to Westfield High School. Lastly the “Madison Island” students would not be affected.

Option 2 moves Fox Mill and some McNair students to South Lakes. The other McNair students would attend Herndon. Oak Hill would then attend Oakton High. Students in Wolf Trap would move to South Lakes.

Option 3 moves students in Fox Mill, Wolf Trap, and parts of McNair to South Lakes. The other McNair students would attend Herndon. Navy is then moved to Oakton.

Option 4 moves the astronaut schools (Aldrin and Armstrong) to South Lakes, where as they previously attended Herndon. Wolf Trap also moves to South Lakes. Oak Hill would be moved to Westfields. Parts of McNair and Floris would attend Herndon. Read the rest of this entry »

In the ongoing debate about the west county school border realignment the WaPo features an article on South Lakes students standing up for their school. If you’re new to this, many parents are concerned that their students attending more affluent schools will be moved to South Lakes:

To persuade skeptics, students say they counter rumor with fact. The Reston campus is diverse, they say, not “ghetto.” Students don’t flash gang signs in the hallways, and they don’t have to walk through metal detectors to get to class.

“I think of this school as a family. When someone talks about South Lakes, I think, ‘You can’t talk about my family like that,’ ” senior Sierra Little said. She represented the school last week in a town hall meeting at Chantilly High packed with about 2,500 anxious residents.

South Lakes Principal Bruce Butler said his student body consists of “kids who come from million-dollar homes on lakes and kids who wear the same pair of pants to school every day.” The school has the largest concentration of students from poverty in the area, with one-third eligible for free and reduced-cost meals. The poverty rates for other schools in the boundary study range from 5 percent at Madison High to 19 percent at Herndon High.

Parents who oppose the boundary change cite many issues with the school. Some are concerned about their kids being removed from friends. Others feel South Lakes is a “social experiment” in diversity.

The plan aims to fill the 800 open seats in South Lakes by moving students from overcrowded schools such as Westfield, a school home to two nationally know murders including Seung-Hui Cho.

Oh and to those who think the principal doesn’t speak English, Bruce Butler is a white American.

The controversial school redistricting proposal had it’s first meeting, and the county estimates over 2000 people attended. Most who arrived at the meeting including county officials came with what seemed preconceived notions. As reported in the Reston Times:

The study will examine redistricting as a solution to under-enrollment at South Lakes and crowded conditions at Westfield and Chantilly, according to staff’s presentation. South Lakes has an enrollment of 1,450 students, and will have a capacity of more than 2,000 once renovations to the school are finished in fall 2008.

Westfield and Chantilly are slightly over capacity, although future enrollment projections show that they will not be seriously overcrowded until 2013. Future overcrowding, however, will limit student participation in extracurricular activities and electives, said Cluster 8 Superintendent Betsy Goodman.

The boundary changes would likely result in students moving to South Lakes. Many parents have voiced concerns over moving to South Lakes, concerns range from their children being separated from school friends, to academic concerns. One blogger believes a concern among some parents is the diversity of South Lakes, where white people are the minority at 49% of school population, with Blacks, Latinos, and Asians roughly splitting the remaining 51%.

Many groups have been established protesting the change, and one parent has even threatened to sue the county if the boundary changes are complete. It’s not known what applicable laws could prevent a change. South Lakes had the smallest turnout, but for the few who did show up they sought to dispel myths about South Lakes.

On November 6th they’re will be a bond referendum for 360 million dollars, that includes money to renovate Lake Anne Elementary.

Exact details on the renovation have not been worked out. But Kevin Sneed, director of design and construction services has listed wiring and mechanical systems as needing to be replaced. Other improvement could include an expansion, to bring the two trailer classrooms indoors, and repainting the walls and roof. The floor could also be upgraded.

The bond package also includes money for two new elementary schools to be built in Fairfax County. Bond proponents also note that schools are used as community meeting rooms, adult education facilities, and other community services.

South Lakes SAT scores have improved according to the Reston Connection. Scores improved by 12 points in math, 15 points in critical reading, 12 points in math, and 19 points in writing.

Bruce Butler, the schools princable has credited the succes with the students continued hard work, “It is a reflection of the kids’ efforts.” FCPS superintendent, Jack D. Dale remarked that “The trends are all pointing in the right direction,” referencing that South Lakes is close to meeting Fairfax County averages.

While South Lakes did not beat county averages, it performed better than both Virginia and national scores. But SAT scores are for comparing students, not schools. South Lakes also had 55 first time in the family high school graduates and 26 honor students, who had GPAs of 4.0 or higher. You can view the numbers for yourself in a report prepared by the county.

The ongoing renovation at South Lakes has continued progressing nicely. Much of the construction on student grounds will be completed by September 4th, the day school starts. Some areas such as the gym and new offices for the administration will not be completed until December.

Many environmental issues present at the then modern classrooms of South Lakes will have been corrected. Better lighting, larger class rooms, and new safety systems have been part of the $50 million renovation. Two years ago Fairfax County voters approved school bonds which paid for the upgrades.