Letter to the Editor: School Boundary Plan Lacks Common Sense

Sunday, April 26, 2009

If you live in Ashburn and think the current school boundary process doesn't affect you, think again. The Loudoun School Board's decision Tuesday will be the most important boundary decision ever made for this part of the county. It will set the stage for every boundary decision for the next 10 years or more.

If the School Board makes the wrong decision, what might happen to your community? According to documents released April 16 at the board's work session, Ashburn Farm could be split across three high schools. Lansdowne students could be bused all the way to Loudoun Valley Estates for high school. Ashburn Village, Broadlands and Brambleton could be split between two high schools. The configurations are numerous, ridiculous and equally unacceptable.

The board vote needs to ensure that no community is split across high schools. Ashburn Farm should not have part of its community moved into Briar Woods High School. If Ashburn Farm kids enter Briar Woods, they will displace Broadlands and Brambleton students, and the southern shift will begin. Ashburn Farm will be the first domino to fall, with catastrophic boundary changes to follow throughout Ashburn.

This is your last chance to be heard before this decision is made. E-mail the School Board (lcsb@loudoun.k12.va.us) and tell its members that a southern shift of Ashburn students away from high schools within their community is unacceptable. If the board votes to split Ashburn Farm, the precedent will be set, and it will happen to more communities in the future. Put a stop to poor planning, and let common sense prevail.

Wendy Wooley, Ashburn

Tagged: Ashburn, Letter to the Editor, opinions, school boundary dispute, schools

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