1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Fiscal Irresponsibility of LCPS Planning Staff

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

  1. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    Regardless of where the HS will be built it is still your and our tax money.
     
  2. jedsob

    jedsob New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2005
    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    0
    Not an expert on this at all but as I understand it - HS6 will be built in Loudoun Valley Estates....and how it affects us is that Briar Woods kids will be pulled and sent to this new school. And that will happen even earlier if HS6 is built earlier as Waters wants it to be. Build HS6, move BW kids there and SB kids to BW and voila, Lansdowne kids get to stay at Stone Bridge! WHat Lori wants...

    What I want is to hear why Lansdowne cant fill the empty Leesburg seats!
     
  3. CuriousGo

    CuriousGo New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2007
    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    In addition to it being fiscally irresponsible and causing your taxes to increase, this greatly effects Broadlands. Basically, by Lansdowne taking over Stone Bridge when there is room for them elsewhere, the Ashburn Farm kids get kicked out and are going to over crowd Briar Woods HS. As Lansdowne continues to grow, more Ashburn Farm Kids will get kicked out of Stone Bridge in two years. Where will they go? Briar Woods. So, as Ashburn Farm crowds Briar Woods, who will then need to be kicked out of Briar Woods? Additionally, we don't want Briar Woods over capacity as it will effect the class room sizes and education for everyone there. Yes, this very much effects Broadlands students!
     
  4. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2005
    Messages:
    2,557
    Likes Received:
    4
    Someone touched on this earlier - the constant redrawing of the school boundries are destroying teh sense of community that has always surrounded "the local school." True - we are far away from the days when high schools were miles & miles apart and you went to the local school like it or not. However, having a kid bussed there one year then bussed over here another only to be bussed way over THERE the next year is rediculous and demoralizing.

    I cannot help but wonder if this contributing to the youth "problems" we have seen on the rise? The kids don't have an anchor with that "favorite teacher" or councelor. They don't have a basic set of solid friends togo thru the drama of high school.

    Then, of course, with over crowded class rooms & schools kids easily get "lost in the shuffle" and don't excell. LCPS should not only consider the fiscal impact of this silly "plan", but also consider the impact on the kids as well.
     
  5. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2002
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    344
    Kaosdad-
    Good point. Moving Lansdowne to Leesburg next year will result in stable boundaries for AT LEAST the next 5 years for all five schools. The 3 Leesburg schools will remain stable for years beyond that and the two Ashburn Schools will not an adjustment before 2014 at the earliest. That's pretty darn stable.
    This recommended plan will require an additional move in two years and result in the two Ashburn schools being overcrowded until that move happens.......while the 3 Leesburg schools have 1000 empty seats.
     
  6. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2004
    Messages:
    505
    Likes Received:
    2
    Because this plan forces Briar Woods over capacity (aftecting Broadlands) and then when Lori Waters gets HS6 built, she will complete the take over of Stone Bridge, forcing more Farm kids into the BWHS region there by forcing a split of Broadlands into HS6 and Briar Woods.

    Because this plan also calls for an unnecessary expenditure (meaning your taxes) for HS6.

    That's why.
     
  7. pbjstokes

    pbjstokes New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    There is a meeting of the Ashburn Farm Parents United from 7:00p-9:00pm tonight at the Windmill HOA Office. School Board members Mr. Ohneiser and Mr. Geurin will also be attending.

    Please come and support the children of Ashburn Farm.
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2002
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    344
    Very impressive meeting. Abut 150 or so residents showed up.
     
  9. Kidz

    Kidz New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    If anyone is free tomorrow at 9:00, please consider coming to the BOS meeting at the County Building in Leesburg- We are WEARING BLACK. Today- there were 18 parents that spoke in favor of delaying HS 6 and the Supervisors were listening. Several spoke to one of our parents following the meeting that we are getting the message out and that it doesn't make sense to build a HS before it is needed. Stevens Miller actually stated during the meeting that he did not support HS6.

    This is a huge deal in preventing the staff plan from going forward. The public doesn't speak tomorrow but we can make a statement by showing up even for just 30 minutes. Please continue the momentum and forward this to any parents that may be able to attend at 9:00 and WEAR BLACK(represents our county staying in the black).

    Keep emailing the supervisors!
     
  10. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2006
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    1
    Isn't Lori Waters a peach?
     
  11. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2002
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    344
    More like a rotten pit.
     
  12. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2006
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    1

    :bow:
     
  13. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2003
    Messages:
    818
    Likes Received:
    17
    Doesn't she have corporate donors that can be contacted with concerns regarding her practices as a politician? Businesses that rely on the public for their well being?
     
  14. lakkjhk

    lakkjhk New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    This is an excerpt for Lori Waters's Newsletter. It seems to contradict building HS6
    February 2009 News from the Board ​
    [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]
    Almost all the news around the Board office these days revolves around the FY10 Budget. Times are tough and the upcoming Budget Worksessions are not going to be easy. Our new fiscal reality calls for a realistic budget, in which we balance the need for a reasonable tax rate with the absolute needs, not wants, for school and county services. The reality of our budget situation will mean tough choices. To give you a picture of just how things have changed in Loudoun, I would like to share with you the Foreclosure Report received by the Finance Committee on which I serve. There were 2,363 foreclosures in the county in 2008. Please click here and scroll to attachments A7-5 and A7-6 to see a county map of foreclosures. The foreclosure problem is expected to continue throughout this year. The subprime crisis is winding down, but another group of loans (called Alt A) is about to reach their five year shifting point. Assessments are projected to decline further over the coming year. Interestingly, the average single family home is now assessed at $395,335, which is below the 2005 assessed value of $403,430 when the tax rate was $1.04. During 2008, nonresidential permits held strong, but vacancy rates are increasing. According to the County Economist Jack Brown, the commercial owners with interest-only loans may also experience refinancing difficulties over the next five years. Mr. Brown also reported that sales tax revenues are down. December holiday sales declined 9.6% from last year, so far year-to-date, FY09 is currently 2.3% less than FY08. Since one real estate tax rate is set for both residential and commercial property, consideration has to be given to the pressures facing local businesses.

    The full newsletter can be found at:
    [/FONT]​
    [/FONT]​
    http://www.loudoun.gov/controls/spe.../Press+Releases/Supervisor+Waters/Newsletters
     
  15. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2002
    Messages:
    5,281
    Likes Received:
    344
    ATTENTION BROADLANDS PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS

    Dear Fellow Residents,
    As many of you know, our school system is in the process of significant boundary changes at the elementary through high school levels that affect the Broadlands. Many of us have rightly fixed our attention at the elementary and middle school levels, feeling safe inside our high school boundaries. However, the county planning staff has proposed high school boundaries that have significant implications for not only our kids but also our wallets!

    Compromised Quality Education
    Under the proposed staff plan announced on March 10, both Briar Woods and Stone Bridge high schools will become tremendously overcrowded. In fall 2010 when the plan would take affect, both schools would already be over capacity. By the fall of 2013, overcrowding would reach 135% of capacity at Briar Woods and 138% at Stone Bridge. This represents more than 550 students over capacity at each school. Even if a new school were built in the Loudoun Valley Estates (HS-6) a year ahead of schedule, overcrowding for Broadlands kids at Briar Woods would reach levels that could affect the quality of their education.

    Fiscal Irresponsibility
    At the same time, the staff plan has the three high schools in Leesburg significantly underutilized. The newest school that cost taxpayers over $86 million to build, Tuscarora, will open in 2010 at only 68% of its capacity of 1,800. By 2014, it would only reach 78% of capacity. In fact, according to this plan, the three Leesburg schools will have between 900 and 1300 empty seats while those in Ashburn would reach 1,100 students over capacity. What is the staff plan solution for this? Build another 1,800 capacity school (HS-6) sooner than originally anticipated in order to relieve this overcrowding and, in the process, add more surplus capacity in our school system. In a time when we can not even afford to fund the full operating budget of our existing schools, why should we be adding even more when there is no reason to do so?

    Splits Our Neighboring Community
    While not of direct impact on Broadlands residents, the staff plan splits our neighboring community between two high schools – Briar Woods and Stone Bridge. It has long been the perspective of the Broadlands HOA Board of Directors to keep communities together to the extent possible. While this staff plan does not split our own community, it does erode the importance of keeping communities together in the school boundary process. If Broadlands wants to ensure that it remains intact as a community in future boundary changes, it should be deeply concerned over the splitting of Ashburn Farms that is being advocated in the staff plan.

    Viable Alternatives Exist
    What then is the solution? Simply make better use of excess capacity in either Tuscarora or Heritage to accommodate overcrowding at Stone Bridge while keeping communities intact. This will insure that both Stone Bridge and Briar Woods do not become significantly over capacity through 2014 and taxpayers are not asked to build and operate another new school sooner than it is really needed. Community Input plans 564 and 592 accomplish this by shifting Lansdowne, as a whole community, to either to Heritage or Tuscarora, stabilizing Stone Bridge’s overcrowding perhaps permanently so that it does not further contribute to overcrowding at Briar Woods. This is the best way to ensure that Broadlands kids retain the best possible quality education at Briar Woods, fiscal responsibility is maintained, and communities in Ashburn and the rest of the county remain cohesive units within our educational system.

    I urge you as your HOA President to voice your opinion to the staff plan that leads to significant overcrowding for Broadlands children at Briar Woods, wastes taxpayer dollars, and undermines the importance of communities, like Broadlands, in our school boundary system.

    What can you do? Email our School Board And Board of Supervisors Representatives and make your feelings known! The final decision will not be made until April 28.
    BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
    scott.york@loudoun.gov
    susan.buckley@loudoun.gov
    jim.burton@loudoun.gov
    lori.waters@loudoun.gov
    sally.kurtz@loudoun.gov
    stevens.miller@loudoun.gov
    supervisor.kelly.burk@loudoun.gov
    andrea.mcgimsey@loudoun.gov
    eugene.delgaudio@loudoun.gov

    SCHOOL BOARD:
    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
    jwguerin@aol.com
    joseph.guzman@loudoun.k12.va.us

    Cliff Keirce
    President, Broadlands Association Board of Directors
     
  16. erica

    erica New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2006
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    2
  17. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2003
    Messages:
    818
    Likes Received:
    17
    Thanks Erica. School discussion starts around 28:00. It was a very interesting meeting and I encourage anyone who has the time to sit down and watch (or maybe get some earphones out and listen).
     
  18. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2006
    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    1
    Who is intrested in joining a class or mass lawsuit against the school board ???
     
  19. latka

    latka Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2002
    Messages:
    1,216
    Likes Received:
    30
    I'm pretty sure Heritage is at capacity now.
     
  20. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2002
    Messages:
    1,332
    Likes Received:
    25
    Joining? Or starting? Is there one already in the works?
     

Share This Page