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
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