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Parents and students in Fairfax County are voicing concerns over proposed boundary changes, vote set for January 22.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Parents and students in Fairfax County attended the final public forum with district leaders Tuesday night to voice their opinions about proposed boundary changes.
It’s the last public forum before the board votes on changes at the end of the month.
As we get closer to that vote, board member Dr. Ricardy Anderson says she’s still concerned about transportation for some students. A topic that hasn’t been sorted out yet.
Dr. Anderson says excluding roughly 2,000 students from pick-up and drop-off is not the answer.
“We must provide our kids with transportation. For two reasons. 1. It’s our policy. Our policy has not changed,” said Dr. Anderson, “And 2. it’s an equity issue to my community.”
The boundary study allows students in certain grades to request to remain at their current school. But the discussion by the board back in December 2024 didn’t guarantee those students could still get bused to and from school. There were concerns raised about cost savings.
Dr. Anderson says she was one of the 5 board members who voted against ending transportation; 5 members abstained.
She says she doesn’t think the board will have a plan sorted out before the boundary vote, but plans to continue to press the district to figure it out.
“January 22, don’t believe transportation will be sorted out at that point. But it will be my continued advocacy that transportation be provided. We need to tighten our belts in other ways,” said Dr. Anderson.
Before public comment at Tuesday’s meeting, Superintendent Michelle Reid told parents and students she is weighing incoming feedback about the current boundary proposal shifts – including how the district plans to phase in some of the proposed changes.
“We had a chance to go back and look at numbers to make sure we’re being thoughtful as we close out a really historic process,” said Dr. Reid.
The district believes the proposed changes will streamline school feeder patterns and address capacity issues.
Some students and parents who spoke Tuesday say they’re concerned about how the boundary shifts will split neighborhoods…and still raise concerns about overcapacity issues.
“These are not dots on a map – they’re children who walk the same sidewalks – wear the same jerseys, and grow up together. As. Dr. Reid said in the January meeting we shouldn’t do this just for a data point if it doesn’t work,” said one parent.
Superintendent Reid says the amended boundary proposal should be released Thursday, January 15.
The board is set to vote on the boundary changes January 22.
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