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Fiscal Irresponsibility of LCPS Planning Staff

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by CuriousGo, Mar 10, 2009.

  1. CuriousGo

    CuriousGo New Member

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    Hi All,

    Here are the email addresses to all nine members of the School Board and the planning comittee. As always, please make sure you state where you live and how this will effect you and your children. Be sure to state how it is fiscally irresponsible, and all other logical arguments, etc, without personal attacks. I do ask that you please be respectful in your emails, but clearly state your thoughts.


    lcpsplan@loudoun.k12.va.us
    Robert.DuPree@loudoun.k12.va.us
    Thomas.Reed@loudoun.k12.va.us
    priscilla.godfrey@loudoun.k12.va.us
    OhneiserLAW@verizon.net
    Jennifer.Bergel@loudoun.k12.va.us
    Tom.Marshall@loudoun.k12.va.us
    John.Stevens@loudoun.k12.va.us
    jwgeurin@aol.com
    Joseph.Guzman@loudoun.k12.va.us
     
  2. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    Where's Donna when you need her??? LOL
     
  3. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    OOOHHH yeah!
     
  4. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    I love how Landsdowne is PUSHING our kids out. I agree, send the little brats to Leesburg!
     
  5. CuriousGo

    CuriousGo New Member

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    Please remember, this doesn't only involve the Ashburn Farm neighborhood. It effects all of Loudoun County AND Broadlands especially! First, it effects our taxes due to irresponsible use of High Schools. Second, as Ashburn Farm is kicked out of their High School, they crowd the Broadlands High School (Briar Woods.) Additionally, this plan does not fix the over crowding issue at Stone Bridge and in two years they will need to move an additional 500 Ashburn Farm kids out of Stone Bridge. Where do you think they will go? Where will that push the Briar Woods kids? There plans out there that worked keeping Ashburn Farm out of Briar Woods. All that needs to happen is support of moving Lansdowne to a Leesburg school. As Ashburn Farm is fully built it will not have growth in high school students allowing for Stone Bridge to set permanent boundaries for good - and not causing the shift into Briar Woods.
     
  6. lakkjhk

    lakkjhk New Member

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    Dear Ashburn Farm Parents-

    Our Advisory group for AFPU just came home from a very frustrating meeting where the county plans were proposed by the School Board Staff. They were the most unreasonable, fiscally un-sound recommendations that could be made. They split Ashburn Farm up across two High Schools, and put both Stone Bridge HS and Briar Woods HS over 2000 students by 2013. The Staff Proposal was promoted as a 2 year solution, and that boundaries will need to be re-drawn again in two years. The Staff had the audacity to say that HS-6, which is not even approved by the Board of Supervisors to be put on the CIP, and currently unfunded since it has not been on the ballot, will be built by 2013. This was the justification for severe overcrowding in Ashburn Schools.

    To Summarize:


    • Ashburn Farm is being split between 2 High Schools
    • All kids in DN12 and 13 that go to BRMS will stay at Stone Bridge
    • The kids that go to Eagle Ridge are being split in half between two High Schools.
    • The kids that are in DN28, DN29, and DN35 will go to Briar Woods HS
    • The kids that are in DN25, DN26, and DN14 will go to Stone Bridge HS
    • In the next boundary adjustment in 2 years, 500 students will need to be moved out of SBHS. Based upon county data, the DN’s that will likely be moved out of Stone Bridge HS next are DN25, DN26, DN14, and probably DN12. That will leave only DN13 as the lone part of Ashburn Farm to be attending Stone Bridge HS.
    • DN25 and DN26 are being set up to be moved to Broad Run HS at the next boundary adjustment.
    • By the next boundary adjustment, we will be split between 3 High Schools.
    • No changes were recommended to Belmont Ridge MS boundaries, even though staff asked for plans that took 200 kids out. Minor change of 7 kids sent to Farmwell Station MS from Eagle Ridge MS.



    This may sound like we are over-reacting, but the actions of the staff, and the data show this to be the future course.
    What you can see is that Briar Woods HS and Stone Bridge HS are overcapacity in the first year with the new boundaries. In the Leesburg High Schools, there are anywhere from 1100 to 700 empty seats for students.

    With the plan announced today, Ashburn schools will be operating at such an extreme overcrowding level that the quality of education will severely degrade. Couple that with the fact that we don’t need to build HS-6 to the tune of $100 million dollars when Lansdowne can move to Leesburg schools and all 5 schools are balanced.

    We will have the plans submitted by AFPU to the School Board members and Planning Staff posted on the Ashburn Farm HOA Website tomorrow. Go to http://www.ashburnfarmassociation.org/school_boundaries.htmto review the detailed proposals that actually fix the problem, best utilize taxpayer dollars during an economic downturn, and keep all communities together. They are the only viable plans submitted, but unfortunately politics are winning over logic.

    What’s Next? We will be putting together an action plan to be announced shortly.

    What do you need to do right now with no delay? Sign up to speak at the March 23 rd and 25 th meetings or put it on your calendar and plan to be there to have a show of force. We will need bodies! Call 571-252-1050 .

    Pass this message onto anybody you know in Ashburn Farm. We need to join together, build a strong coalition, and make our voices heard.

    Sincerely,

    Ashburn Farm Parents United


     
  7. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    I just emailed every member of the school board and every member of the board of supervisors regarding this situation.

    Question-

    If they zone Lansdowne into Leesburg area high schools, would that prevent this whole proposed mess from happening? Or would they school system still be looking at schools over capacity around the county?

    I am just trying to wrap my head around the reasoning behind this proposal, aside from the obvious of the politically connected and financially influencial Lansdowne parents pushing for this.
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    mdcrim-
    Moving Lansdowne to Leesburg will SOLVE the capacity issues through at least 2013, if not beyond. At that point Stone Bridge is projected to be slightly over capacity (but less students than it has now). Briar Woods would be the most overcrowded at 200 over capacity.
    When the eventual HS-6 is built, it will relieve the slight overcrowding at Briar Woods Broad Run, and Stone Bridge.
    Given that new housing starts has essentially stopped, my guess is that the growth will be slower than projected and HS-6 won't be needed until 2015-2016.
     
  9. CuriousGo

    CuriousGo New Member

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    For those that wanted it, here are the addresses to the Board Of Supervisors. You can also email them about the fiscal irresponsibility and assumptions of the proposed plan... As Cliff points out, this can be delayed till probably 2015. That is a lot of money for LCPS to be spending so many years early!

    scott.york@loudoun.gov; susan.buckley@loudoun.gov ; jim.burton@loudoun.gov ; lori.waters@loudoun.gov ; sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov ; stevens.miller@loudoun.gov; andrea.mcgimsey@loudoun.gov; eugene.delgaudio@loudoun.gov; supervisor.kelly.burk@loudoun.gov
     
  10. cmbm

    cmbm New Member

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    My children won't be attending high school for many years but this still causes me concern. Is there anyway that the Broadlands community could join up with the Farm to voice our concerns about keeping communities together at schools? I thinkk strength in numbers could be beneficial.

    It makes no sense to me to transport students across RT 7 during rush hour just because parents don't like a certain school. They bought homes in the neighborhood knowing that those schools were a serious option.
     
  11. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    cmbm,

    Yes, I think that is the best approach as this Landsdown school grab affects both communities greatly and for years to come. Is this something that Cliff/HOA can handle directly and in some official manner?

    Regardless of HOA involvement, everyone should write and try to speak at the meeting or at least show up in support of defeating this.
     
  12. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Cliff is only one body, one face, regardless of how many of us would echo whatever he says when he speaks. seeing residents turn out in FULL FORCE is what could make an impact. the hospital debacle shows that.

    we don't all have to go with a prepared speech, but EVERYONE who cares should take the time to show up and be counted.
     
  13. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I'm already working on getting together a coalition of HOA's to speak out against this.
    It's not easy to do, and there's not much time, so it is important that everyone concerned about this speak out and/or write letters.
     
  14. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    As a member of the Broadlands HOA Board, I can tell you that when one person comes in with a 'complaint' representing his/her neighbors, and when the bulk of the neighbors come to the meeting to voice their 'complaint', it's natural for me to 'feel' the greater impact when more people are present voicing it as opposed to one 'representing'.

    Hope this makes sense. What I'm saying is that more people voicing their concerns always has a greater impact than one person voicing it for the group.

    Now, having Cliff come in with a 'coalition' of HOA's is in essence the same thing, but at a higher level. Ultimately, the more concerned faces they 'see', the more chances you are to get your issues addressed.
     
  15. eam

    eam New Member

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    Dear Ashburn Farm Residents:



    We have learned that Lansdowne residents are petitioning the Board of Supervisors in great numbers in support of building HS-6 ahead of schedule. It is our hope that after you read this, you will contact the Board of Supervisors to make known your concerns for fiscal responsibility and keeping Ashburn Farm at their community High School.



    As background, Lori Waters is pushing the Board of Supervisor’s Finance Committee to move up HS-6 in the CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) Budget and to bypass public approval for this capital expenditure. Most large expenditures must go to citizen approval on the ballot in November. Supervisor Waters is seeking to bypass this process.



    For Supervisor Waters and her fellow Lansdowne residents, the only way to keep their students at Stone Bridge HS is to build HS-6 prematurely, and send Ashburn Farm kids south to Briar Woods. (See the extreme overcrowding that occurs as a result of this plan http://www.ashburnfarmassociation.org/PDFFiles/Ash-Lee HS Recommendation.pdf )



    As you know, the alternative that makes the most sense for all county taxpayers and for Ashburn Farm is to move Lansdowne students to what would otherwise be EMPTY seats in the Leesburg High Schools (that have already been approved by the voters).



    Supervisor Waters stated the following at the March 4, 2009 School Board Budget Presentation to the Board of Supervisors. Our research (AFPU Research) contradicts her statements.



    Lori Waters Statement

    “You see on the High School numbers that we’ve got a capacity problem, even with Tuscarora being built and open in 2010.”



    AFPU Research Finding

    Capacity is 8087 student seats for the five high schools in Supervisor Waters’ analysis (Briar Woods, Heritage, Loudoun County, Stone Bridge, and Tuscarora). Enrollment numbers for 2010/11 are projected at 6984. We don’t have a capacity problem, we have a surplus of 1103 seats when Tuscarora opens.



    Lori Waters Statement

    “It is apparent to me that we need HS-6 sooner than 2014 to open. There will be no less than 1000 kids north of the Greenway that are gonna (SIC) have to be put somewhere.”



    AFPU Research Finding

    This statement is false. If either citizen input plan 564 or plan 592 are adopted, in 2012/13, Stone Bridge HS is only 36 kids over capacity. Statistically the school would be at capacity



    Lori Waters Statement

    For HS-6 - “It doesn’t need a legislative land-use application. So, I encourage you to give it some thought on moving it up. In this kind of bid environment … that school could come in at a really affordable price compared to waiting 2 or 3 years and spending $106 million dollars on it”



    AFPU Research Finding

    Supervisor Waters is advocated building a new school without voter approval during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Is it okay to build something now because it’s on sale, even if we can’t afford it? That’s fiscal irresponsibility.



    Lori Waters Statement

    “I’ve reviewed what the county put in as potential boundary changes for the High Schools you are looking to make changes in. Every one of them (the plans) still has Stone Bridge overcrowded by 2012. So I was thinking about moving HS-6 up – you have a little more flexibility in your decision making and you don’t churn students from one school and 2 years later move them out due to overcrowding. So I have talked to a couple of you about moving it up.”



    AFPU Research Finding

    In 2012, both plans endorsed by Ashburn Farm Parents United and other surrounding communities (plan 564 & 592) have only 36 students over capacity in 2012. These plans are also permanent solutions for Ashburn Farm, Belmont Country Club, and Lansdowne. This is not a 2 year solution – kids don’t have to move again, communities are kept together, and taxpayers don’t have HS-6 prematurely added to our already high tax burden.





    What you need to tell the Supervisors

    In this economy we will not stand by and have them build a new high school that is not needed. We need to maximize use of available capacity. As taxpayers, we demand fiscal accountability. Building a high school years ahead of schedule, just to placate a special interest in Supervisor Waters’ district is irresponsible.



    Send messages to the Supervisors IMMEDIATELY. The next meeting to address this is next Tuesday, March 18th. This meeting is a joint meeting between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors.



    scott.york@loudoun.gov ; susan.buckley@loudoun.gov ; jim.burton@loudoun.gov ; sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov ; stevens.miller@loudoun.gov ; supervisor.kelly.burk@loudoun.gov ; andrea.mcgimsey@loudoun.gov ; eugene.delgaudio@loudoun.gov ;



    Also, send this message to all your friends in Loudoun County. It affects all citizens of the county.



    Ashburn Farm Parents United





    Supporting Data:

    AFPU Endorsement of Plans 564 and 592 with maps

    http://www.ashburnfarmassociation.org/PDFFiles/AFPU_HSPlanEndorsement.pdf



    School Staff recommendation presented to the School Board on March 10, 2009

    http://www.ashburnfarmassociation.org/PDFFiles/Ash-Lee HS Recommendation.pdf



    Webcast of Supervisor Waters making the case to build HS-6 prematurely

    http://lcps.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=23

    - choose March 4th meeting and watch the Video – start at 2:20 into meeting – item #4 CIP

    :blush::conf2:
     
  16. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    i wrote a letter yesterday, to the BoS and school board- we'll see what response comes... how can ppl SO transparently use their positions to push forth PERSONAL agendas?!?! shameful. juat shameful.
     
  17. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    and BY THE WAY- why isn't there a news organization on this??? don't they love digging into political corruption, abuse of power, local politico shenenigans?!? who has a connection to bust this into the bigger public eye???
     
  18. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Lori Waters is an embarrassment to this county.
    Maybe she should have to explain her snobbish opinion why Lansdowne kids are too good to go to a Leesburg High School. Let's air the truth.
     
  19. TDT

    TDT TDCKY

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    Why are we even discussing this isuue in Brodlands since our boundry is for Briar Woods HS?
     
  20. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    because what happens to our neighbors can easily happen to US. we would want support from others in Ashburn if we had a serious injustice happening here, wouldn't we? i would hope that the Farms and Village residents wouldn't just say "mmm- too bad for THEM" and go on without voicing an opinion that could be helpful...
     

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