New Middle School Boundries

I've spoken to and exchanged emails with several School Board members over the past few weeks. Although they obviously can't say what would be done, they all mentioned that leaving DN44 at Eagle Ridge makes sense. I have no doubt this will be resolved favorably for us.

 

Went to the School Board meeting after our HOA meeting ended. The plan that was adopted was John Andrews Plan Amended 5/02/06, with DN50 added back to Eagle Ridge.
DN44 is back where it belongs, at Eagle Ridge.

 

I'm happy for the people in DN44 who wanted to stay at Eagle Ridge, but that plan really makes no sense. I think it is particularly shameful the way DN32.2 was carved out of the Eagle Ridge boundaries. I believe that area includes the new Village of Waxpool development that connects directly with Broadlands South at Ridgeway and Laurier. I'm guessing there aren't enough people there yet to even know what is happening, let alone organize and voice a community opinion the way DN44 did, but once people realize their kids are going to be shipped several miles away instead of attending the school they can walk to, they're going to be pretty steamed. And they should be. Would be nice to have a school board that looks out for everyone rather than just the squeaky wheels.

 

Slightly off topic ...
Are they punching through that road ?? I had heard that the other developer wasn't going to do that. If they are, it does make it easier for the kids to walk to school.

 

It looks like that road is almost through already. I believe there will also be another entrance into that community from the old, unpaved part of Waxpool, which may be even closer to ERMS. Again, I don't think those people will be too happy when they realize what has happened with the boundaries.

 

There were speakers from the Villages of Waxpool at the public meetings.
No plan is perfect. Kids will have to be moved. It makes more sense to me to move a small community with direct access onto Belmont Ridge to a new school that is accessed off Belmont Ridge than a section of Broadlands that is within walking distance and directly across Caliborne from Eagle Ridge.
Also, since Villages of Waxpool is so new, I'm sure part of the thought process was that these residents have not yet been in Eagle Ridge long enough to feel "established" there, unlike DN50 which has been going to Mill Run/Eagle Ridge for a few years now.

I think with the next boundary realignment we may see more kids from Ashburn Farm pushed south to Eagle Ridge and several areas of Broadlands pushed south to Stone Hill.

 

I don't think SHMS will have access from Belmont Ridge Road. At least not very direct access anyway. And DN32.2 clearly has better access to ERMS than does DN44. I think the plan is impossible to justify. Just looking at the map would tell anyone that. The north corner of DN32.2 practically touches the school building. Not that anyone is going to be devastated by having to travel down the road to school for 3 years, but that boundary map is just plain ridiculous.

 

We are thinking about buying a house in Village of Waxpool so are paying attention to how this affects them. I think it is a problem for those kids to go to Stone Hill. They will attend Mill Run then go off to Stone Hill while their friends go to Eagle Ridge. Our child is in first grade so this won't be an issue for us for a number of years. The boundaries could change again by that time - I'm hoping!

 

As it now stands, kids at Mill Run will feed three middles schools: Eagle Ridge, Stone Hill, and Farmwell.

 

I read in the Loudoun Connection that the Andrews plan takes Farmwell Hunt out of Farmwell Station Middle School and sends them to Eagle Ridge. Is that true? I thought the plan adopted keeps Farmwell at Farmwell Station Middle school.

 

The Andrews (adopted) plan leaves Farmwell Hunt at Farmwell. Bob Ohneiser, who represents Ashburn Village, tried to amend the plan to move Farmwell Hunt to Eagle Ridge. That motion was defeated by an 8-1 vote. Ohneiser has recently been making noise about trying to change the adopted plan to send Farmwell Hunt to Stone Hill. I tend to doubt that the School Board is going to want to reopen the issue.

 

Thanks Cliff. I guess the paper got it wrong or went to print before the matter was settled. In any event here's the link:
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=65922&cat=104