Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School

February 19, 2014

Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School

Laura Tekrony

The Goal: Why we are here tonight

Keep Aldie Elementary open to preserve our community, village and history. Aldie has been at risk of closure for 2 decades. Continued residential growth in Aldie and future plans for new Elementary schools puts the school at risk of closure.

History of Aldie Elementary

• First school in Aldie was established in 1858. • Current school was built in 1928 and was

renovated in 1950 and 1963. • Facility has evolved over the years to meet the

changing needs of the community. 

Objectives of Expansion:

• Fill the need for half a school in the Dulles South area• Offload adjacent schools that will be overcapacity

(Arcola and Buffalo Trail) • Provide a home school for smaller developments in the

Transition Policy Area• Save the county money by expanding an existing paid

for asset • Leverage a community school that is strategically

located in the heart of the village• Preserve the Village of Aldie and heritage

First Task / Objective

(What we must do first):Present a case to the school board to keep Aldie Elementary open indefinitely by expanding it to triple its size.

 Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School

What the SAVE ALDIE ELEMENTARY CAMPAIGN has done so far

• Options analysis (Charter or Expansion)• Draft plat for expansion• Scope of work with specs for new wing• Conceptual renderings of new wing• Projected capital cost of wing

Why Not Charter?

• Charter Schools have restrictions– Under current state law, one-half of all charter schools within a district

are required to serve “at-risk students” — a requirement that could be an obstacle to the effort to convert two western schools to charter (Middleburg and Hillsboro). Adding Aldie Elementary would not be feasible.

– Enrollment is open to any child within the school division through a lottery process on a space-available basis. Students currently enrolled in Aldie Elementary would not be guaranteed a spot in a charter.

• Proximity to Middleburg would make it challenging to fill two charter schools.

Why Choose Expansion?

• Aldie Elementary is in a different cluster (John Champe High School) than other small schools in western Loudoun.

• John Champe cluster is located in the suburban east and has residential growth.

Our S.W.O.T. AnalysisStrengths• Aldie Elementary is a high performing school. Offers a

quality education. – A long list of Awards

• Committed PTA, parents, teachers and principal• Strong community support for the school Weaknesses• Shortage of parent volunteers • Lack of dedicated funding for initiatives outside of PTA

S.W.O.T. Analysis continued

Opportunities• Residential growth both within and adjacent to

Aldie Elementary’s boundary• Enrollment projections show Buffalo Trail and

Arcola Elementary overcapacity in 2019/2020• Aldie School has an interesting and evolving

history and community is willing to protect this history

• New Superintendent in July

S.W.O.T. Analysis continued

Threats• Closure continually recommended during

operating budget review by LCPS administration and school board

• Turnover of school board with different agendas. Majority believe small schools are inefficient.

• Policy of cookie cutter school design • New Superintendent in July

Timeline & History of Threats• 2008―Combination classes in 4 schools designated

by the school board as under-enrolled (Aldie, Middleburg, Hillsboro and Lincoln). Aldie was scheduled to have combination classes in grades 1-3 in the 2008-2009 school year.

• Dr. Hatrick warns that next year’s budget will be worse and closure of Aldie or Middleburg may be considered.

• 2009―Aldie, Middleburg, Hillsboro and Lincoln proposed for closure in the 10% and 15% operating budget cuts (Tier 2 and 3 reductions).

Timeline & History of Threats continued

• 2010―Small school principals reduced to ½ time at Middleburg, Aldie, Hillsboro and Lincoln.

• School closure was not listed in Option 1 Reduction List but threat was made during budget reconciliation in April.

• Small schools given the opportunity to attract more students with Open Enrollment Policy.

• Aldie Elementary reaches out to Lenah Run parents with an Open House.

Timeline and History of Threats continued

• 2011―Plat of potential expansion is donated by a parent. Aldie Elementary meets with School Board members and LCPS Director of Construction to discuss long-term strategy.

• 2012―New School Board. Aldie Elementary meets with three school board members and Blue Ridge Board of Supervisor to discuss expansion efforts. First Aldie Town Hall in October to begin discussing expansion with the community.

Timeline and History of Threats continued

• 2013―Charter or bust warnings from school board. Applies to all western Loudoun County. Bill Fox said, “The only way to remove closure threat permanently is for community to take responsibility for the school.”

• Concepts for the wing are donated by a parent. Peach Orchard and Braddock Road east attendance zones are moved to Buffalo Trail Elementary during boundary change for Cardinal Ridge Elementary.

Timeline and History of Threats continued

• 2014―Small schools were singled out in a Community Budget Priorities Survey generated by LCPS administration and the Chairman of the school board.

• Keeping the small community schools open was ranked last in the priority list by the 10,000 respondents.

• Middleburg Elementary submitted a charter school application and decision will be made by School Board February 25th.

• Aldie Elementary begins “Expand and Save” Campaign to move forward on long-term strategy.

Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School

Rich Sutphin

Conceptual Vision

• Create a wing completely separate from the main building with two additional classrooms per grade (12 rooms total), new library, combined art and music room, special education classroom and health clinic.– Two story building design with an elevator.– Unique design possible because the school is located in the historic

overlay district. • Construct a walkway from the wing to the main building

between the cafeteria and the library.• The main building would accommodate one classroom per

grade, cafeteria, gymnasium, computer classroom and offices. 

Site Improvements

• Parking lot– 60 parking spaces with drive aisles– Parent drop-off and pick-up loop

• Bus loop– Loop for 7.5 buses

• Regrading of fields below existing parking lot and basketball court to allow for more parking. Existing basketball court may need to be removed.

• Potential road improvements to Meetinghouse Lane

How YOU can help NOW

• Make a donation to the cause to cover materials and expenses associated with this campaign.

• Attend School Board Meeting on March 11– Wear Aldie branded items– Sit together with us– Volunteer to speak – we can help you with “Talking Points”

• LIKE us on FACEBOOK– Our Facebook page and others as specified on the handout

• Sign & Mail the Letter we have provided for you and add your own comments at the bottom

• Remember to also Email your comments• Volunteer for a Specific Task

Specific Volunteer Tasks

• Attend and speak at school board meetings • Organize a fundraiser for the campaign • Monitor & update FACEBOOK page• Survey parents to determine skills that may be useful to the

campaign• Schedule meetings with communities in neighboring

developments• Help organize our next Town Hall in April or May

 Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School

Next Meetings• February 25th Support Middleburg Elementary at School

Board Meeting @ 6:30 pm• March 3rd Committee Meeting @ Gum Spring Library 7

p.m. upstairs conference room• March 25th Expand and Save Aldie Elementary rally at

School Board Meeting @ 6:30 pm• Community meeting with Jill Turgeon and other school

board members in March, date TBD Campaign to Expand & Save

Aldie Elementary School

Q & ATHANK YOU

for Joining Us This Evening!Campaign to Expand & SaveAldie Elementary School