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| Dranesville Dispatch January 2020: Issue 48 |
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News and Information for
Dranesville District Residents
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John Foust
Dranesville District Supervisor
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Contact us at:
Dranesville District Supervisor
McLean Governmental Center
1437 Balls Hill Road
McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-356-0551
Fax: 703-821-4275
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Message from Supervisor John Foust
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Dear Dranesville Resident,
Happy New Year and welcome to the January issue of the Dranesville Dispatch!
In December, I was sworn in for my fourth term as your Dranesville District Supervisor. I am honored to continue serving in this role and look forward to continuing our work to make our community the best it can be. Jeff McKay leaves his post as Lee District Supervisor to take the helm as Chairman of the Board, and we are joined by several new Board Members;
James Walkinshaw in Braddock, Walter Alcorn in Hunter Mill, Rodney Lusk in Lee, and Dalia Palchik in Providence. The voters have selected an outstanding team to lead the County into the future and it is sure to be an exciting time. I have included a photo of the
new Board below.
This last election was also a time of significant change for the Fairfax County School Board. In Dranesville, the awesome Janie Strauss retired after almost three decades of service. Dranesville voters chose Elaine Tholen as our new representative. I am excited that Elaine has agreed to contribute a regular column to this newsletter. Read more about Elaine and her priorities in her
column. With
budget season on the horizon and a proposal to adjust high school
boundaries in McLean, working closely with Elaine and the School Board will be one of my top priorities.
As always, I appreciate your thoughts on how to best serve you and all residents of the Dranesville community. Please contact my office if you have questions, suggestions, or concerns.
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DRANESVILLE AND COUNTY NEWS
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The new Board of Supervisors was sworn in on December 16.
Congratulations to Chairman Jeff McKay whose years of service as Lee Supervisor will serve him well in his new role. Welcome to new members Braddock Supervisor, James Walkinshaw; Hunter Mill Supervisor, Walter Alcorn; Lee Supervisor, Rodney Lusk; and Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik. In addition to Dranesville Supervisor, John Foust, returning members include Mason Supervisor, Penny Gross; Mount Vernon Supervisor, Dan Storck; Springfield Supervisor, Pat Herrity; and
Sully Supervisor, Kathy Smith.
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Adopting a budget that adequately funds essential services and is sensitive to the burden on taxpayers is never easy. The County Executive will release his Advertised Budget to Board members, County staff, and the public on February 25, 2020. The Board will authorize the proposed tax rate on March 10, 2020, hold public hearings on the advertised budget from April 14 through 16, 2020, and will adopt the tax rate and FY 2021 budget on May 5, 2020.
Last November, the Board of Supervisors and School Board received a fiscal forecast briefing. At that time, residential property values were projected to increase
2.08 percent, while commercial property values were projected to increase 1.84 percent. A 1.9 percent revenue increase ($85.7 million) was projected. The budget will consider many County and school needs that will be competing for funding, such as: teacher salaries; staffing the new Scotts Run Fire Station and South County Police Station; the police body-worn camera program; Diversion First and the Opioid Task Force; as well as County employee compensation and Metro funding. Needs are expected to exceed available revenue. Once again, the Board will work closely with County residents to ensure that funding decisions reflect the community's priorities.
Each year, Supervisor Foust partners with citizen groups to host public meetings in Dranesville to discuss the Advertised Budget. Details for the meetings that have been scheduled are included below:
Dranesville District Budget Public Meetings
McLean Area with the McLean Citizens Association
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean
Great Falls Area with the Great Falls Citizens Association
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
Great Falls Library
9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
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 Hutchison Elementary School Crosswalk Relocation and Improvement
Crossing Parcher Avenue to get to Hutchison Elementary School in Herndon had become a concern for students, parents, school staff, and nearby neighbors. The crosswalk was in a low point on the road, causing concerns about visibility. In addition, it was difficult, but necessary, to cross the road quickly due to the width of the road and speed of cars traveling down it. Even with an assigned crossing guard, safety concerns persisted.
After discussing these concerns with school staff, Supervisor Foust reached out to Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT)
staff and asked that they review the area and determine ways to improve the pedestrian safety. FCDOT staff suggested that moving the crosswalk to the other side of the school driveway, which would improve visibility, and adding a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road, giving pedestrians a safe place to wait while crossing, would be effective ways to improve the crossing.
Supervisor Foust worked with County staff to allocate funds for the project which was completed in January.
Going forward, staff will continue to monitor the crosswalk to determine if additional improvements are needed.
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One of the biggest transportation challenges in the McLean area is the congestion caused by inadequate capacity on the American Legion Bridge and the Maryland side of the Beltway.
Since early 2018, VDOT has been working on its 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension project (
495 NEXT), which is a 2.5-mile extension of the 495 Express Lanes north from the current terminus near the 1-495 and Dulles Access Road interchange to the vicinity of American Legion Bridge. The project proposes to install two new tolled Express Lanes in each direction to reduce congestion and improve roadway safety, provide additional travel choices, and improve travel reliability.
In early 2019, VDOT signed a nonbinding Development Framework Agreement with Transurban. Delivering the project through this public private partnership would mean that no public funding by the Commonwealth is needed to extend the Express Lanes network. If approved, the project will replace Live Oak Drive, Georgetown Pike, and Old Dominion Drive Bridges and allow for the installation of pedestrian/bike facilities along the corridor. Construction could begin as early as 2021.
Virginia officials have been cautious about moving forward with the project because without replacing the American Legion Bridge, bottlenecks and congestion will only be relocated, not resolved.
A major development occurred late last year when Virginia Governor Northam and Maryland Governor Hogan announced "The Capital Beltway Accord." The agreement is a commitment to work together to create a new, unified Capital Beltway and replace the aging American Legion Bridge. The cost of the bridge project is expected to be $1 billion and both states will contribute to the cost through public private partnerships. The private entity will pay the upfront costs in exchange for future toll revenue meaning toll payers rather than taxpayers will foot the bill.
The new bridge will have four express toll lanes, in addition to eight free lanes, as on the current span. The tolls will fluctuate based on congestion, rising to keep traffic flowing freely. Construction could begin in 2022 and would likely take five or six years.
The next key piece of the puzzle is ensuring that the widening of I-495 just over the bridge in Maryland is done in coordination with the bridge project. Governor Hogan recently obtained a key vote to advance a plan to widen the Beltway from the American Legion Bridge to the Interstate 270 spur, and along the lower part of I-270 between the Beltway and Interstate 370.
Many state and federal approvals are still needed and there will be opportunities for residents and communities to provide input on these proposals. Supervisor Foust said, "
I am excited that we are making progress on addressing congestion issues that have plagued our communities, but I want to be sure that the project is done in a way that actually addresses our problems, rather than just moving them."
VDOT will hold a public hearing to present the results of the 495 NEXT environmental study and traffic analysis and solicit community input on March 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Langley High School in McLean (6520 Georgetown Pike).
For more information, contact Jane Edmondson in Supervisor Foust's office at 703-356-0551 or
Jane.Edmondson@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Throughout the Dranesville District, there are several pedestrian transportation projects in varying stages of design or construction. Below is a list of projects that are currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2020.
Several of these projects have their own Fairfax County Department of Transportation webpages. They are shown in blue below. Click the links to learn more about those projects.
For more information on these projects, contact Jane Edmondson in Supervisor Foust's office at 703-356-0551 or
Jane.Edmondson@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Solar Power Purchase Agreements and Fairfax County
On December 10, Fairfax County government officials announced contracts with multiple solar power purchase agreement (PPA) service providers. The contracts will allow for the installation of solar photovoltaic arrays at Fairfax County government, school, and park sites, providing the potential for both substantial cost avoidance and environmental benefits over time. A solar array is a grouping of several solar panels. This is the largest solar PPA initiative by a local municipality in Virginia to date.
Solar PPAs are attractive financing mechanisms for the purchase of renewable energy by government entities because they allow for the purchase of solar-generated electricity from on-site arrays without upfront installation or ongoing operational costs. The solar PPA service provider is responsible for installation, management, and maintenance costs.
The contracts include favorable electricity rates that in most cases are fixed for the duration of the contracts. As a result, this initiative could potentially yield over $60 million in electricity cost avoidance over the terms of the contracts. Reinvesting the cost savings in energy efficiency and additional renewable energy opportunities will help generate further savings.
In addition to cost avoidance, the solar PPA contracts offer significant environmental benefits. Over the contracts' terms, approximately 1.73 million megawatt hours of clean renewable energy could potentially be delivered to Fairfax County facilities - an amount roughly equivalent to the electricity used by 213,680 homes in a single year.
In terms of greenhouse gas reductions, the contracts have the potential to avoid the emission of more than 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or an amount comparable to the emissions of 260,155 passenger vehicles over the course of one year.
The contracts established by Fairfax County with the solar PPA vendors are "rideable," which allows neighboring jurisdictions to take advantage of the competitive rates and reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.
Supervisor Foust said, "This is an important step in moving Fairfax County towards a cleaner, greener future. Promoting and encouraging the use of renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint are Board priorities. Thank you to the many advocates throughout the County that have helped get us to this point."
The contract awards follow the June 2019 release of a request for proposals for roof-mounted and canopy/carport-mounted solar installations at 113 sites. Following evaluation of the proposals and negotiations, three teams of solar providers were awarded contracts: Sigora Solar/Standard Solar, BrightSuite (a subsidiary of Dominion Energy)/Sun Tribe Solar, and Ipsun Solar/SunLight General Capital.
This initiative is one piece of a larger set of strategies and actions Fairfax County is undertaking to address energy and climate-related issues. With the advent of the newly established Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), the county is placing a renewed and concerted focus on energy use both in County facilities and in homes and businesses. The OEEC is principally responsible for coordinating production of the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan. In the coming year, OEEC will engage County residents and stakeholders to devise that plan to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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McLean High School Proposed Boundary Adjustment
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is considering a boundary adjustment to provide capacity relief to McLean High School (HS). Currently, McLean HS has more than 2,350 students in a building with design capacity of 1,993 students and enrollment is projected to increase in the next five years.
Langley High School, which is close in proximity to McLean HS, recently completed a renovation that increased its design capacity to 2,370 students. Current enrollment at Langley is 1,972 and is projected to remain the same or decrease in the next five years.
FCPS is considering recommending that the School Board approve a boundary adjustment to move some McLean HS students to Langley HS. Some students who currently attend McLean HS could be reassigned from McLean HS to Langley HS, if the boundary adjustment is approved.
FCPS is not planning to recommend moving students out of Langley HS as part of this boundary adjustment.
Two boundary scope community meetings were held in December. FCPS staff presented information and scenarios for consideration on how to reduce McLean HS enrollment by moving some students to Langley HS. After the presentation, community members worked in small groups to discuss the information and provide feedback.
The community feedback from the boundary scope meetings will be used to develop options which will then be presented to the community at boundary study meetings in the spring. The community will be notified once the spring meeting dates have been determined. Additional feedback will be collected at the boundary study meetings and used to provide a recommendation to the School Board. The School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed boundary adjustment prior to voting at a School Board meeting, likely later this year.
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Glass Recycling in Fairfax County
Fairfax County and its partners from neighboring jurisdictions introduced purple bin glass-only recycling in April 2019 and stopped collecting glass from curbside recycling bins in October, to reduce contamination, lower transportation costs, protect sorting equipment, divert glass from the landfill, and develop untapped markets for recycled glass. Twenty-four
public drop-off sites (purple bins) are open to all Northern Virginia residents, no matter where they live.
To date, over 4 million pounds of glass have been dropped off in purple collection bins. Previously, glass that was put in curbside recycling bins usually ended up in the waste stream, whereas now it can be recycled, reused, and repurposed.
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| Supervisor Foust visited the purple bin at Great Falls Library shortly after it was installed. |
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Following on the early success of the program, taking into account both the quality and volume of glass that has been collected, starting in January 2020, North America's largest glass recycler, Strategic Materials, will begin transporting glass from the County's glass processing plant in Lorton to one of its recycling facilities. There, the glass will be processed and sold to manufacturers of a wide range of glass products. One such customer is Owens-Illinois, Inc. also known as O-I, which produces 3.6 million bottles a day at its bottle manufacturing plants in Danville and Toano, Virginia.
Glass collected in Virginia and recycled into glass bottles in Virginia closes the loop on the circular economy, a goal of sustainable communities. Glass-to-glass recycling uses less energy than making bottles from virgin material, reduces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and supports hundreds of jobs. According to County staff, one ton of carbon dioxide is reduced for every six tons of recycled container glass used in the manufacturing process.
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Bellamy Carstens (3) helps her grandfather, Jim Edmondson, load glass into the purple bin at Dolley Madison Library. It's never too early to start recycling.
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Supervisor Foust said, "The change from single-stream recycling to glass-only recycling at purple bins has been an adjustment for residents but I am excited that our community has committed to participating in this program. This is a significant step towards reducing the County's negative impact on our environment."
Going forward, County staff sees potential in working with bars and restaurants to separate their glass recycling and to encourage private haulers to collect glass separately. The County is also looking for opportunities to increase the number of public drop-off sites.
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E-Scooter Regulations Approved in Fairfax County
In February 2019, the General Assembly passed a law permitting shared mobility devices in Virginia and gave local governments authority to establish regulations or a pilot program for these new devices.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a Shared Mobility Device (SMD) ordinance on November 19, 2019 that governs devices such as e-scooters in Fairfax County, which went into effect on January 1, 2020.
Fairfax County's Department of Cable and Consumer Services will regulate the e-scooter and other SMD operators through a permitting process. Operators will be required to maintain certain fleet sizes with an initial maximum fleet of 300 devices per operator permit that can be increased to 600 devices per operator based on usage.
Like bicycles, e-scooters can be used on a highway, sidewalk, shared-use path, roadway, or crosswalk. E-scooters in Fairfax County cannot be operated above 10 mph. Once riders reach their destination, they should leave the device parked in an area that does not impede normal car or foot traffic. If residents notice an e-scooter parked in an inappropriate place or left on private property, they can contact the device operator listed on the e-scooter and the operator must remove it.
Fairfax County staff will create a process for e-scooters and SMD
complaints related to improper use or abandonment. Staff will coordinate implementation of the complaint process with bordering jurisdictions.
Once developed, this information will be shared in a future newsletter. The provisions of the ordinance will be reviewed after one year and presented to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration and possible amendment.
In order to report any issues related to scooters and other shared devices, emails can be sent to
consumer@fairfaxcounty.gov.
For more information on the SMD ordinance, visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cableconsumer/csd/shared-mobility or call Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services at 703-324-5966, TTY 711.
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2020 Census in Fairfax County
The U.S. Constitution requires that a count, or census, of America's population is taken once each decade.
The data collected by the census is used in many ways, such as:
- Distribution of more than $675 billion annually in federal funds back to state and local governments.
- Redistricting of legislative districts.
- Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population.
- Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.
- Assisting federal, tribal, state and local governments in planning and implementing programs, services and emergency response.
- Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.
By April 2020, households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. You will then have three options for ways to respond: online, by phone, or by mail. Approximately 95% of households will receive their census invitation in the mail, while 5% will receive theirs when a census taker drops it off (primarily for households that use a PO box).
The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.
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Land Use Cases in Dranesville
RZ/FDP 2018-DR-018 &
DSC-D1-2
Southeast of Frying Pan Road and Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon
At its January 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an application to rezone 7.35 acres from the R-1 zoning district to the Planned Development Housing-5 district to allow the construction of 35 single family attached dwellings. Access to the site will be through a right-in/right-out access point along Frying Pan Road and a right-in/right-out from future Sunrise Valley Drive Extended. The applicant will widen Frying Pan road along the project's frontage and provide a 10-foot-wide, shared use path. Fifty-seven percent of the site will be set aside for open space and over 33 percent of the existing trees on the site will be preserved.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here
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Fair Light, LLC
SE 2018-DR-020
8514 Lewinsville Road, McLean
At its January 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a special exception application requesting a modification of the minimum R-1 lot width requirement to permit the construction of a two-lot subdivision. Both lots will exceed the minimum lot size requirement and have similar density to the surrounding properties. The approved modification will allow the applicant to remove the eastern driveway, which is currently within a floodplain. The applicant will be taking steps to restore an environmentally sensitive corridor of land on the property and will also install enhanced stormwater controls on each lot.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found here.
Milestone Tower Limited Partnership and Fairfax County School Board
SE 2019-DR-012; PCA 89-D-007-02
700 Bennet Street, Herndon
A concurrent Special Exception and Proffered Condition Amendment to construct a 124-foot tall monopole and compound to be located on the north side of the Herndon High School football field in an open area just west of the northside visitor's bleachers.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here.
Margaret F. Ahbe, Trustee
RZ 2019-DR-013
Jarrett Valley Drive and Leesburg Pike
Applicant proposes to rezone 1.72 acres of land zoned R-1 to PDH-2 to allow the construction of three single family homes.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here.
For more information on land use cases in Dranesville contact Ben Wiles in the office of Supervisor Foust at Benjamin.Wiles@FairfaxCounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
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Students Win First Place in Lego League Competition
Seven McLean-area students, who called themselves District T (T for Tysons), participated in the VA/DC First Lego League competition at Friendship Collegiate High School in November 2019. The team was awarded first place in the "innovation project" category. City Shaper was the theme of the competition and teams were tasked with developing solutions to address energy, poverty, pollution, stormwater management, and transportation concerns. District T chose to study the Tysons Comprehensive and Park plans.
The team visited Scotts Run in Tyson and studied the condition of the stream. They chose to design a solution that would predict erosion over time using an automated and technical solution/prototype with software and sensors.
The team reached out to Supervisor Foust's office, which connected them with Park Authority staff. The team presented their knowledge of Tysons and stormwater management to staff, who provided feedback and shared with the students ways that the County is working to improve local streams through restoration projects in the Tysons and McLean area.
Board of Supervisors Recognizes Langley High School Boys Golf Team
Representatives of the Langley High School Boys Golf Team were recognized by the Board of Supervisors on December 3 for winning the Virginia High School League Golf Championship. The Saxons won their 4th straight state title, matching the Virginia record for consecutive titles for all sports in the Class 6 category.
Throughout its history, the Langley team has won 8 state golf tournaments.
In 2019, the team won seven tournaments, breaking all-time scoring records in three tournaments as well as shooting under par in all four 36-hole tournaments.
Two of the team's members, Nikita Gubenko and Brian Feinstein, have played on all four state championship teams.
Board of Supervisors Recognizes McLean High School Students
On December 3, the Board of Supervisor recognized the staff of all five of McLean High School's publications, each of which earned a Trophy Class ranking at the 2019 Virginia High School League's (VHSL) Media Championship. The Trophy Class is the highest ranking bestowed by VHSL, and McLean High School was the only school in Virginia to earn five such designations.
The Trophy Class winners were
WMHS News in the Broadcast Division, The Tartan in the Magazine Division, The Highlander in the Newsmagazine Division, The Highlander Online in the Online Division, and
The Caledonia in the Yearbook Division.
McLean Community Center Receives Two Virginia Recreation and Park Society Awards
MCC Executive Director George Sachs, MCC Graphic Designer and Webmaster David Craig and MCC Governing Board Chair Julie Waters with the VRPS Award for Most Innovative Marketing Piece.
The McLean Community Center (MCC) received two awards at the Virginia Recreation and Park Society's 64th Annual Conference "Growing to New Heights," which was held in Tysons Corner last September. More than 500 delegates from around the Commonwealth gathered to learn, exchange ideas, and discuss areas of common interest to recreation and park professionals.
Each year, there is a formal presentation of awards to individuals, departments, and organizations throughout Virginia that have demonstrated excellence during the previous year. One hundred and fifteen applications were received for awards in 14 different categories. Judged by a jury of its peers, MCC received an award in the Best New Renovation/Addition (Bricks and Mortar-population 25,001-50,000) category for the MCC Renovation and Expansion Project and Most Innovative Marketing Piece (population 25,001-50,000) for the MCC 2018 Summer Camp Guide.
The MCC Governing Board recognized MCC Executive Director George Sachs and Facilities Manager Joe McGovern for their work on the Center's renovation project and MCC Graphic Designer and Webmaster David Craig for his design work on the center's 2018 summer camp guide.
Langley High School Volley Ball Team Recognized with American Volleyball Coaches' Association Academic Award
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ongratulations to the Langley High School Volleyball team and its coach, Coach Shifflett. The team was recognized as a recipient of the 2018-19 American Volleyball Coaches' Association Academic Award. This award honors their dedication to the sport of volleyball as well as their excellence in the classroom. The team's average GPA was a 3.9.
John Monsul, Creator, Producer, and Host of "Communicating Today" Celebrates 800th Episode
At its January 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors recognized Dranesville resident, creator, producer, and host of "Communicating Today," John Monsul. The 800th broadcast of the program aired in December on Channel 10, the Fairfax Public Access Cable TV station. The first broadcast was 30 years ago in 1989. "Communicating Today" is one of the most-produced programs in the 38-year history of Channel 10, one of the largest and most successful public access cable stations in the country.
The program is dedicated to showcasing the different ways people and organizations communicate with one another. Mr. Monsul devotes most of each program to interviewing guests on a variety of topics, ranging from architecture to zoology, and everything in between. Congratulations to Mr. Monsul, who announced that as he had recently celebrated his 90th birthday, he will be retiring this year and taking a well-deserved break.
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Hutchison Elementary School Shoe and Gift Card Drive
Each holiday season, Supervisor Foust and Arts Herndon, a local nonprofit organization, collect shoes and gift cards for students at Hutchison Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Herndon. Supervisor Foust said, "
I am so appreciative of the generosity residents throughout Dranesville have shown the students and families of Hutchison Elementary by participating in this shoe and gift card drive. These donations help ensure students have what they need to be successful in school. A big thank you to all who contributed."
23rd Annual Reindog Parade in McLean
Supervisor Foust joined the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce for its 23rd Annual Reindog Parade in December. Local dogs dressed up to participate in a parade for prizes. Even Santa joined in on the fun.
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From the Desk of Elaine Tholen, Dranesville District Representative to the Fairfax County School Board
Meet Dranesville's New School Board Representative
 I am delighted that Supervisor Foust asked me to contribute to his newsletter as it gives me the opportunity to introduce myself to Dranesville residents who may not know me yet. I am Elaine Tholen, and I was elected last November to fill the School Board seat from which 26-year veteran Janie Strauss retired in December. I thank Janie for her decades of service, and I am excited and honored to work with and for my constituents in the Dranesville District, members of the Board of Supervisors, and my new colleagues on the School Board.
My husband, Jim, and I have lived in Great Falls for over 25 years. We raised two sons who went all the way through Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and graduated from Thomas Jefferson and Langley High Schools. I have been involved with our schools as a parent, PTA Officer, teacher, and program manager.
As a career educator, I have spent over 30 years in science education, environmental education, and environmental management. I have a proven track record in starting new, innovative programs in large organizations. Most recently, I started and managed the nationally acclaimed Get2Green program for FCPS. This district-wide, preK-12 program promotes environmental stewardship among students and staff and operates in over 125 schools.
From 2017 to 2020, I served as a Director and Treasurer for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Board. I also served with the statewide Soil and Water Conservation Districts to promote education programs statewide and to train district employees across the state in environmental education techniques and resources. In addition, I am a co-founder of NoVA Outside and have co-chaired their signature event, the Student Environmental Action Showcase, for the past nine years.
With my passion to inspire young people to be active learners and citizens, I am really excited to get out and meet our students and educators across Dranesville. I am starting a "Day in the Life of a Student" program so watch for me in the halls of our high schools, middle and elementary schools soon. I am currently assigned by the school board to work with the Joint Environment Task Force, the Audit Committee, and the Human Resources Advisory Council and will be the school board liaison to the Park Authority. I am also working on my priorities of relief for the overcrowding at McLean High School and some of our elementary schools, student wellness, teacher retention, and workforce opportunities for our students. I will be getting out into the community to hear your concerns and to begin building relationships and communication channels.
Strengthening the ties between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board is high on both my and Supervisor Foust's priorities for Dranesville. We will be working closely to monitor the needs of Dranesville residents and to jointly communicate information to the public on overall county topics. I am looking forward to meeting you soon.
To learn more about me or to contact me, visit the FCPS website School Board section https://www.fcps.edu/school-board/school-board-members. I will also have my own periodic newsletter to keep you aware of school happenings. Sign up for my newsletter
here.
Upcoming Public Hearings with the School Board
Capital Improvement Program - January 27, 5:30 p.m., Luther Jackson Middle School
FY 2021 Advertised Budget - January 27, 6:00 p.m., Luther Jackson Middle School
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| Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. For information, call the Dranesville District office at 703-356-0551, TTY 711. |
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| If you would like your community announcement included in Dranesville Happenings please send an email to dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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