Letter to the Editor: It's the Wrong Place And the Wrong Cost
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
As a mother, teacher and 12-year Loudoun County taxpayer, I am appalled that Loudoun officials — namely, the Loudoun County School Board — contracted recently to purchase a 170-acre site in the agricultural district of Wheatland (between Lovettsville and Purcellville) for a future elementary, middle and high school complex for more than 4,000 students.
This "eduplex" is too expensive, too big and too remote. In the current real estate market, in which land is going for $20,000 to $30,000 an acre, and in the current budget crisis, it is absurd for school officials to pay $67,000 an acre. Most of the site — 160 of the 170 acres — was purchased in 2007, at the height of the market, for $46,000 an acre.
The size of the proposed complex is too large, considering western Loudoun's build-out projections at the current zoning density. Furthermore, the complex is much larger than most other school sites in the county, as well as in surrounding Virginia and Maryland school districts. Considering what this county pays to build these kinds of schools, this project would end up costing taxpayers more than $200 million to complete.
Loudoun County's Revised General Plan says that new public schools will be located in, or immediately adjacent to, existing villages, towns and joint land management areas. Wheatland is not a town. There are no services nearby, nor is there public water or sewer service.
This area of the county contains a diverse and successful farming community, commonly referred to as the agricultural jewel of Loudoun for its important economic, scenic and historic resources. Draining groundwater at a rate of 72,000-plus gallons a day to serve so many students plus faculty in a single massive complex is not sustainable and would certainly deplete the water needed to supply neighboring farms and homes. Then there is the huge expense for construction and lifetime operation of not only a communal water treatment system but at least one wastewater treatment facility.
Given the opportunity to be in on the process of selecting a school site or deciding what criteria are most important, I doubt most taxpayers would have approved this property as the best and most affordable option available.
To get involved or to get a map or more information, go to www.wheatlandalliance.org.
Michele Trankovich, Purcellville
Tagged: Letter to the Editor, Loudoun County Public Schools, opinions, real estate, school board, schools, western Loudoun
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You tellem sister, Home school is the answer.
Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on April 16, 2009 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Said! Everyone in Loudoun should be concerned about the out of control antics of the LCPS Land Aqusition team led by Sam Adamo. They have shown time and again they do not want public input, they believe they are above the rules, and most of all, they care very little about the long term impact of their actions.
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE PEOPLE!!!!! Call or write your representives and demand they make changes in this important area now!
Posted by randyefischer (anonymous) on April 16, 2009 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And our Children continue to go to school in deplorable Trailers in Loudoun Valley High School. That's acceptable right? C'mon for Pete's sake I live in the U.S.A. not some Third World Country who in some cases have better facilities than Loudoun Valley. No to Woodgrove, No to this, No to that, enough with the Pettiness. WORK with the LCPS, the Mayor of Lovettsville has been fighting for YEARS for a Middle School and a High School. IF this is not the correct location than work with LCPS to FIND the correct location possibly closer to Lovettsville, don't just SHOUT NO at the top of your Lungs. Western Loudoun needs solutions and SCHOOLS for our Middle School and High School CHILDREN!!!! Not just Screams of NO!! Also one person commented "Home School is the Answer". If you Home School why do you care where the School is built? Your kids go to school at HOME!!!! They would not have to go to a new state of the art school, funded by one of the richest counties in America, they would go to school at Home!!!
Posted by jcourc (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, as @jcourc noted, part of the answer is to have an answer... not just to say "no" but to say "what about this?" and point out real alternatives. The Town of Lovettsville has repeatedly voiced interest in schools. Can it possibly be true that every option in or near Lovettsville has been fully reviewed and ruled out? Given the LCPS penchant for secrecy, how can anyone outside LCPS possibly know?
Posted by HaigEK (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jcourc,
the issue is that LCPS had opportunities to put these schools in the Town yet made the conscious decision to site in Wheatland and not only avoid Lovettsville but work effectively to divide the community. In 2006 instead of accepting Mr. Miller's offer of <$32k/acre (and who had signed their contract at that price) they opted for a contract at $40k/acre to Mr. Grubb for his Wheatland area farm. And now LCPS has signed a contract for $67k/acre to Cangiano/Burgess. Miller was a viable Plan B for Fields Farm and an excellent site for MS/HS-10. Sadly, that chance is now gone because the seller is no longer interested. Condemnation is not acceptable to anyone (myself included) when other options exist. However, there are other sites near Lovettsville and LCPS knows them, but no one is putting their feet to the fire to even consider them. So our tax bills go up to pay for bigger than necessary schools on overpriced land where all students will need to be bussed and millions of dollars spent on water and wasterwater treatment plants.
Wheatland Alliance members have said that, if the public were given a chance to evaluate the options and decided this is the best site, acceptance would come. However, the PUBLIC HAS NO SAY what sites are considered, that is a priviledge held tightly by LCPS adminstrators. LCPS site acquisition department needs a comprehensive audit before approval of any more land deals.
Key documents we have acquired through the Freedom of Information Act are viewable (more coming) at http://groups.google.com/group/smalltown...
Posted by stinger (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree there should be more schools in the area, but the price per acre is troubling. I purchased over 20 acres in Lovettsville in December for under $17,000 per acre (well and septic already in place).
Posted by dbc007 (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Mrs. Trankovich. The schools need to be located nearer to a town, closer to sewer, water, and amenities, not in the middle of farmland.
For schools to be built where currently proposed, a special exception is required. Once that's granted, more special exceptions will tumble into place, allowing Macdonalds and gas stations et al to be built to serve the school population.
Posted by julia.kasdorf (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jcourc, I agree shouting NO is not helpful, the Wheatland Alliance has spent many, many hours trying to communicate with LCPS, is it like talking to a brick wall. It is very possible to site these schools in Lovettsville. They just don't want to. You can help by helping put pressure on LCPS.
Posted by randyefischer (anonymous) on April 17, 2009 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In their own documents LCPS tells what is "wrong" with any site that they once identified as possible. Every site has at least one thing "wrong" with it,
http://smalltownschools.googlegroups.com....
The questions are:
1. do any or all three schools need to be on the same site?
2. How much land is REALLY needed for each?
3. How big does each school REALLY need to be?
4. Is not complying with the Comprehensive Plan more or less "wrong" than being a difficult site in geologic terms (hilly, some wet areas etc)?
I don't believe that the public or the Supervisors have been given enough data to answer ANY of these questions. I think overcoming engineering problems on a site is more palatable than disregarding our county's guiding document.
Posted by farmerellen (anonymous) on April 19, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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