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I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 165,000 other students ()
Date: April 21, 2008 02:14PM

I am also sick of the people in SOCO. If you are also tired of the whiners in SOCO please post your comments.

We know what they want? EVERYTHING. Where does that leave the rest of us? With the left overs if their are any.

Please read this great post;


I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners and their misguided sense of entitlement to this middle school.

FACT: FCPS is facing a $100 million budget deficit

FACT: Fairfax County has a declining revenue base given the real estate market.

FACT: Many FCPS facilities are in desperate need of renovations-some have not been renovated for 40 years.

FACT: There are 4 schools surrounding SOCO that have 1200 empty seats-SOCO is overcrowded by 450 students.

FACT: Many students in FCPS commute long distances to get to their schools. SOCO families should do the same.

When that dingbat spoke at the SB meeting and stated that she brought her piggybank with $27 million I had to laugh. Who the hell made her queen? She stole $2 million from BRAC planning, she hocked some piece of PUBLIC land for $15 million and the BOS is offering $10 million to shut Storck and Bradsher up. How exactly is that her piggy bank?

This SB is wasting so much time on this garbage someone needs to tell them NO! Maybe then the SB will start giving a damn about the other 165,000 students in FCPS.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Gravis ()
Date: April 21, 2008 02:45PM

what is SOCO?


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."095042938540

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: LOLCO ()
Date: April 21, 2008 02:59PM

what the fuck is SOCO

Now SOVA, I am sick of those people period.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Baffled ()
Date: April 21, 2008 03:16PM

LOLCO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what the fuck is SOCO
>
> Now SOVA, I am sick of those people period.


SOCO refers to South County. Another either redistricting/building a new school circus is underway. Get popcorn and watch the show if you are interested..probably not from the sound of your post.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCOLOCO ()
Date: April 21, 2008 03:23PM

. . .sorry folks, but there just isn't 1,6000 extra student placement seats at Lake Braddock, Hayfield, and West Springfield.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ITRADE ()
Date: April 21, 2008 03:26PM

Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what is SOCO?


Southern Comfort.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 ()
Date: April 21, 2008 09:34PM

I like my soco with ice

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag ()
Date: April 21, 2008 11:12PM

like oh my gawd, soco and lime

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: meh ()
Date: April 22, 2008 12:02AM

SOCO straight to face in the shieeeeeet

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Not a proud moment FFX ()
Date: April 22, 2008 08:02AM

This is what the people of SOCO have done to all of the other citizens and children in Fairfax County.

No sex offender unit.
Less detectives.
More Sexual predators


The BOS found 5 million to bond in each of 2 years. Guess other stuff will be bumped on completion dates. P'Caso [sex offender unit] of our police was funded with money procurred via a grant.

FX no longer has the full funding and the county might be short 3 detectives. I would rather fund these detectives and stick some kids on a bus to Lake Braddock.

The BOS made a choice. Sexual predators . Not a proud moment in the history of this county. What about the 2000 student high school target enrollment?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bartender ()
Date: April 22, 2008 10:25AM

soco n lime

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: thecumbackkid ()
Date: April 22, 2008 11:23AM

SOCO N LIME PLOX

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag ()
Date: April 22, 2008 12:53PM





Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2008 12:54PM by bdimag.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: TIRED ()
Date: April 22, 2008 01:36PM

There are a lot of people who are tired of this bunch of rich people who are bias, elitists and who practice racialism.

If the above is not true, how come they do not want their children to attend Hayfield, Lee and Holly ES.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 ()
Date: April 22, 2008 01:44PM

What's racialism?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: traits and capacities. ()
Date: April 22, 2008 01:53PM

496 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's racialism?


A theory that race determines human traits and capacities.

SOCO PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MINORITIES DO NOT MEET THEIR STANDARDS AND DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN AROUND THEM.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: TheMeeper ()
Date: April 22, 2008 02:44PM

496 Wrote:
>> What's racialism?


That's racist.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag ()
Date: April 22, 2008 02:45PM

you're all so ig'nant

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 ()
Date: April 22, 2008 04:07PM

TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 496 Wrote:
> >> What's racialism?
>
>
> That's racist.

Thats racialist.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Bull shit coming out of SOCO ()
Date: April 23, 2008 12:15PM

This is why people are sick and tired of the bull shit coming out of SOCO. This region is on the brink of tearing itself apart because people there will do anything in order to get new schools in whatever way fits their biases. Racism and bigotry are alive an well in Southern Fairfax County.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: RACIALISM. ()
Date: April 23, 2008 12:58PM


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Gravis ()
Date: April 23, 2008 08:41PM

496 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TheMeeper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 496 Wrote:
> > >> What's racialism?
> >
> >
> > That's racist.
>
> Thats racialist.



That's racist!


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."095042938540

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Citizen ()
Date: April 24, 2008 06:28AM

South County area needs to have a complete RD in order to fill all empty seats in schools like Lake Braddock, Lee, Hayfield and Mount Vernon first.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: NEW BUILDING FOR FCPS ()
Date: April 24, 2008 09:57PM

Since the FCPS system wants to move ahead with a new building, Gatehouse 2 lets put all middle school students from SOCO into this building.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin ()
Date: April 24, 2008 10:52PM

I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the 2 older buildings that were in use prior to gatehouse, The one in Fairfax city by the courts and the old HR building on Edsall Rd, until they just moved into Gatehouse. Meanwhile the schools crumble.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Real Prejudice ()
Date: April 24, 2008 11:50PM

So much bias, so much rage, so much ignorance!

All of it directed against people they don't even know.

What an irrational hatred of the people living in South County!

Such SOCO-phobia.

I don't know the facts about the South County school situation, but I damn well know that there is nothing to learn from the hate-filled individuals accusing "SOCO" of the very things they demonstrate with their own words: bias and hatred.

Do Fairfax County and Schools officials or Board members really pay attention to such rantings of a deranged few?

Shame on them if they do.

Hopefully they will realize that the raving lunatic mob doesn't represent anything more than the six or seven people who post all this garbage using various aliases.

I now what comes next, so flame away, I can take the heat.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Tourist ()
Date: April 25, 2008 10:36AM

The main problem I have with South County is that, when I look at the attendance boundaries, it sort of looks like Italy or maybe post-WW II Yugoslavia. This makes me think that the residents not only get brand new schools, with promises of more to come, but also eat really well, and I get jealous.

None of the other school boundaries stand out this way. If you look at Langley sideways, it almost looks like a profile of Abe Lincoln. McLean, with its attendance islands to both the west and south, looks a bit like a lobster. Stuart almost looks like a Star of David, but it would need to cut a deal with Wakefield (in Arlington) to really pull that off.

Now do you understand why we're so angry?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO stupidity ()
Date: April 25, 2008 12:03PM

Gatehouse I saved us ZERO money. Read the cost/benefit analysis. Read what FCPS promised in savings and what they saved.

This building cost us our kids and grandkids $60 million smackers and it takes $3.5 million from the operating budget every year.

Gatehouse II will cost us even more money and put us further in debt.

Fix our schools first before we spend another penny on the Kremlin cronies.

After you fill Mt Vernon then we will talk about this unneeded middle school.

We need to take away their checkbook.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Dr. Freud ()
Date: April 25, 2008 03:31PM

Tourist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The main problem I have with South County is that,
> when I look at the attendance boundaries, it sort
> of looks like Italy or maybe post-WW II
> Yugoslavia. This makes me think that the residents
> not only get brand new schools, with promises of
> more to come, but also eat really well, and I get
> jealous.
>
> None of the other school boundaries stand out this
> way. If you look at Langley sideways, it almost
> looks like a profile of Abe Lincoln. McLean, with
> its attendance islands to both the west and south,
> looks a bit like a lobster. Stuart almost looks
> like a Star of David, but it would need to cut a
> deal with Wakefield (in Arlington) to really pull
> that off.
>
> Now do you understand why we're so angry?

Yes, yes, yes! Finally someone who tells the truth about this whole affair.

It clearly is the Yugoslavian food that everyone is jealous of.

From here on out, it's Shopska Salads for every school in the County!

Of course, if the evil SOCO people had their way, the SOCO boundary would be reduced in such a way that it looked more like a Pentagram.

Also, doesn't Westfield look a little like the Ziggy cartoon in profile?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster ()
Date: April 25, 2008 04:08PM

Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

Let's see if this applies to any of the posters above:

"Tired" writes about "SOCOs": "There are a lot of people who are tired of this bunch of rich people who are bias, elitists and who practice racialism."

"traits and capacities" writes: "SOCO PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MINORITIES DO NOT MEET THEIR STANDARDS AND DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN AROUND THEM."

And "Not a proud moment FFX" lays all blame on the "SOCOs": "This is what the people of SOCO have done to all of the other citizens and children in Fairfax County. No sex offender unit. Less detectives. More Sexual predators"

Yeah, I'd say they match what Merriam-Webster was talking about.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: another definition ()
Date: April 25, 2008 04:23PM

SELFISH:

concerned excessivily or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well being without regard for others.

Hmmmmmm, let's see. Could this describe the SOCO Middle School crowd???

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: IGOTDAJUIC ()
Date: April 25, 2008 04:40PM

SOCO N LIME JUICE

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster ()
Date: April 25, 2008 04:41PM

another definition Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Could this describe the SOCO Middle School crowd???

Here's another definition for you:

Stereotype: A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. Typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong.

Sort of like calling thousands of people "the SOCO Middle School crowd" just becuase they are willing to work hard to get their children a Middle School - something that everyone else in FFX County already has!

Do I also need to help you with the words ignorant or prejudice?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Webster is stupid ()
Date: April 25, 2008 04:57PM

So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock also.

Montgomery County Public Schools was just given $55 million from the state of MD for school construction next year. Their student population is about 20% less than FCPS. If we apply the same ratios to FCPS we would get about $70 million.

The SOCO nuts want it all. They would have us spend 70% of our construction budget on them. And the 30% left-the crumbs-would go to the other 180 schools.

Give me a break.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Citizen ()
Date: April 25, 2008 08:44PM

IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT WITH THEIR MONEY.

otherwise they need to wait their turn.



Webster is stupid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle
> school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and
> Lake Braddock also.
>
> Montgomery County Public Schools was just given
> $55 million from the state of MD for school
> construction next year. Their student population
> is about 20% less than FCPS. If we apply the same
> ratios to FCPS we would get about $70 million.
>
> The SOCO nuts want it all. They would have us
> spend 70% of our construction budget on them. And
> the 30% left-the crumbs-would go to the other 180
> schools.
>
> Give me a break.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster ()
Date: April 25, 2008 09:16PM

Webster is stupid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle
> school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and
> Lake Braddock also.
>
And that's exactly where the misunderstanding about this entire issue begins.

Hayfield is a secondary school. Robinson is a secondary school. Lake Braddock is a secondary school. South County is a HIGH SCHOOL!

Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock were built 30 years ago as SECONDARY SCHOOLS; that means they were designed from the foundation up to accomodate what was then an educational philosophy of co-locating the middle and high school students in the same building, with some shared facilities and many SEPARATE facilities.

By contrast, South County is the same design as Westfield, which is a HIGH SCHOOL.

South County was built not just because Hayfield was bursting at the seems, but because thousands of NEW homes were being built around the closed Lorton prison property. To provide the same quality education available in every other community in Fairfax, former prison land was set aside to build a high school, middle school and elementary school.

However, because the development was initially expected to take up to ten years or more, the plan was to first build the high school, and temporarily operate it as a "secondary" school. Once the new community was large enough, the midddle school would be built. But, because of the then-hot housing market in 2002-2005, most of the major new housing developments were accelerated and what could have taken up to ten years, took just over three.

Yet, facilities staff refused to recognize this fact and appropriately adjust the CIP to move up the SC middle school. The problem in South County isn't that we have an overcrowded "secondary school", the problem is that we don't have our planned MIDDLE SCHOOL.

But, having middle schoolers in a high school and calling it a "secondary" school doesn't change the underlying reality that it is still a HIGH SCHOOL.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Amazed ()
Date: April 25, 2008 09:23PM

Citizen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY
> SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT WITH
> THEIR MONEY.
>

Wow, what an amazing statement!

Let's just change a few words to make it more accurate:

If the children of "SOCO" want a middle school, they should build it with their parents' money and staff it with their parents' money.

Is that really how Fairfax County Public Schools operates?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO OWN WORLD ()
Date: April 25, 2008 10:25PM

SOCO should split away from the rest of the county in order for them to do their own thing. Your money, your schools, your staff, be happy in your world and leave the rest of us alone.



Amazed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Citizen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL,
> THEY
> > SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT
> WITH
> > THEIR MONEY.
> >
>
> Wow, what an amazing statement!
>
> Let's just change a few words to make it more
> accurate:
>
> If the children of "SOCO" want a middle school,
> they should build it with their parents' money and
> staff it with their parents' money.
>
> Is that really how Fairfax County Public Schools
> operates?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: April 26, 2008 12:17AM

Merriam-Webster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Webster is stupid Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So I guess all secondary schools deserve a
> middle
> > school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson
> and
> > Lake Braddock also.
> >
> And that's exactly where the misunderstanding
> about this entire issue begins.
>
> Hayfield is a secondary school. Robinson is a
> secondary school. Lake Braddock is a secondary
> school. South County is a HIGH SCHOOL!
>
> Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock were built 30
> years ago as SECONDARY SCHOOLS; that means they
> were designed from the foundation up to accomodate
> what was then an educational philosophy of
> co-locating the middle and high school students in
> the same building, with some shared facilities and
> many SEPARATE facilities.
>
> By contrast, South County is the same design as
> Westfield, which is a HIGH SCHOOL.
>
> South County was built not just because Hayfield
> was bursting at the seems, but because thousands
> of NEW homes were being built around the closed
> Lorton prison property. To provide the same
> quality education available in every other
> community in Fairfax, former prison land was set
> aside to build a high school, middle school and
> elementary school.
>
> However, because the development was initially
> expected to take up to ten years or more, the plan
> was to first build the high school, and
> temporarily operate it as a "secondary" school.
> Once the new community was large enough, the
> midddle school would be built. But, because of
> the then-hot housing market in 2002-2005, most of
> the major new housing developments were
> accelerated and what could have taken up to ten
> years, took just over three.
>
> Yet, facilities staff refused to recognize this
> fact and appropriately adjust the CIP to move up
> the SC middle school. The problem in South County
> isn't that we have an overcrowded "secondary
> school", the problem is that we don't have our
> planned MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>
> But, having middle schoolers in a high school and
> calling it a "secondary" school doesn't change the
> underlying reality that it is still a HIGH SCHOOL.

SO MOVE. 2500 hundred seats. If a middle school opens , SOCO HIGH would have over 500 empty seats in 2012.

SOCO was built on the Westfield Design. According to a quote by Rumberger , Westfield was supposed to open as a secondary school.

SOCO used Westfield blueprints because FCPS has STOCK plans for new schools. Dogwood has several twins!!! The fact is Connelly is running for Congress so it seems Tisdadt is going ahead with this. Did the school board vote?

no but Tom, Gerry, Jerry, and Dave did plan the money. What is Storck? The King of underpopulated schools? He'll have SOCO and Mount Vernon after the middle school opens.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SB voted for South County Middle Scho ()
Date: April 26, 2008 12:49AM

taxpayer Wrote:

> Did the school board vote?
>
> no but Tom, Gerry, Jerry, and Dave did plan the
> money. What is Storck? The King of
> underpopulated schools? He'll have SOCO and Mount
> Vernon after the middle school opens.


Yes they did, back in January, and the votes were quite clear. The SB voted to immediately begin planning for South County Middle School and voted that upon receipt of $10 million from the BOS, they would build South County Middle School. Here are from the official minutes:

--------------
Fairfax County School Board
Regular Meeting No. 12
January 24, 2008

Official Minutes

The motion to amend the motion to allocate the $2 million in BRAC planning money contained in the 2009-2013 CIP to immediately begin the planning for the South County middle school passed 11-1, with Mrs. Bradsher, Mr. Center, Mr. Gibson, Ms. Hone, Mrs. Kory, Mr. Moon, Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner, Mr. Raney, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Storck, and Mrs. Strauss voting “aye”; and Mrs. Wilson voting “nay”.

The amended motion that, upon the provision by the Board of Supervisors and/or the federal government of at least $10 million in funding or its equivalent designated for that purpose, the Board direct the Superintendent to work with the County to utilize these funds to leverage such other additional funding or financing necessary to initiate a contracting process that will result in the most expeditious construction possible of a South County middle school that does not displace any other project currently funded for planning or construction by the CIP passed 8-4, with Mrs. Bradsher, Mr. Center, Ms. Hone, Mrs. Kory, Mr. Moon, Mr. Raney, Mr. Storck, and Mrs. Strauss voting “aye”; and Mr. Gibson, Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Wilson voting “nay”.
-------------

Sounds like both the SB and BOS have made clear with their votes that South County Middle School should be built.

Get used to it!

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Where is the money ()
Date: April 26, 2008 06:16AM

So the SB voted for the MS. Now tell me where they get the $50 million dollars to build the school? They have $12 million now, where does the rest come from? From the BOS? From the SB? From the residences of SOCO?
How many years will it take to build the school?
Lots of questions with very little answers?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ILLEGALS FOR SOCO SCHOOLS ()
Date: April 27, 2008 12:49PM

Re: More Illegals Moving to Fairfax!
Posted by: SOCO HAS SPACE FOR ILLEGALS (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 12:42PM


Since SOCO is close to Prince William County and they will have three new schools, I suggest that all illegals students should be placed in the three new schools in SOCO.




HooLeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Local
> Crackdown prompts student exodus to other
> counties
>
> Dan Genz, The Examiner
> 2008-04-26 07:00:00.0
> Current rank: # 103 of 4,441
> Virginia -
>
> The number of non-English-speaking students
> transferring from Prince William County schools to
> neighboring school systems climbed again last
> month as families flee the crackdown on illegal
> immigrants.
>
> The vast majority, 623 of about 760 departing
> students, have moved to neighboring Fairfax County
> schools, while 80 selected Arlington and 58 chose
> Alexandria.
>
> State and local school officials are trying to get
> a handle on the impact of a Prince William County
> policy directing the police to inform federal
> immigration authorities when illegal immigrants
> are questioned for traffic violations and minor
> crimes. Supervisors are considering a pivotal vote
> on whether to fund the multimillion-dollar policy
> Tuesday amid a budget crunch.
>
> The transfers from Prince William County to
> Fairfax County are nearly triple the 241 students
> who completed the same transition between
> September and late March last year, and officials
> say the immigration policy contributed to the
> increase.
>
> Critics, including Capital Area Immigrants' Rights
> Coalition director Kathy Doan, contend the
> crackdown has driven hundreds of legal immigrants,
> including the U.S. citizen children of illegal
> immigrants, out of the county as families seek
> jurisdictions with less aggressive enforcement
> tactics.
>
> Virginia School Superintendent Billy Cannaday held
> a regional conference call with top officials from
> 13 school divisions earlier this month to get a
> grasp on the extent of the regional migration.
>
> Cannaday wanted to determine whether the families
> of immigrants were leaving education altogether,
> which he said appears not to be happening, or
> transferring to neighboring districts, which is.
>
> "While Walts informed us that ... enrollments had
> dropped 718 students since Sept. 30, 2007, it
> appears that most of these students may have
> enrolled in Fairfax, Arlington or Alexandria
> public schools," Cannaday wrote in a memo April
> 4.
>
> School officials now say 759 students left the
> school system through March 31, up from a
> preliminary 718.
>
> While the number of students learning English has
> eroded throughout the school year, it follows a
> 1,546-student increase last summer. Teachers are
> still educating 800 more English language learners
> than last school year.
>
> Supporters of the illegal-immigration policy,
> including Chairman Corey Stewart, say the drop in
> school enrollment will save the county $6 million
> in fiscal 2009 and result in at least 40 fewer
> teaching positions next school year.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin ()
Date: April 27, 2008 03:45PM

Why dont they just build the addition on to SCSS like they did with westfield. That would be cheaper and they would have lots of seats. Or they could just add trailers, but SOCOers are too good for that.

Re: the temporaryness of a secondary school:
How well did that work out for Chantilly? Built as a temporary school back in 1973, its still working without complaints. THey just have lots of trailers and a modular building.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Ex-Hawk ()
Date: April 27, 2008 05:02PM

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why dont they just build the addition on to SCSS
> like they did with westfield. That would be
> cheaper and they would have lots of seats. Or they
> could just add trailers, but SOCOers are too good
> for that.
>
> Re: the temporaryness of a secondary school:
> How well did that work out for Chantilly? Built as
> a temporary school back in 1973, its still working
> without complaints. THey just have lots of
> trailers and a modular building.


Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary school with grades 6-12.

BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended 9-period day.

Of course, by your logic, why not eliminate Laurel Hill elementary school and just add on another 24 trailers and make South County a K-12 school.

After all, it's just a matter of putting in more "seats" for the least amount of dollars, right?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KoolKat ()
Date: April 27, 2008 06:09PM

Ex-Hawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with
> grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of
> Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but
> has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary
> school with grades 6-12.
>
> BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended
> 9-period day.

Can someone explain what a "9-period day" is? Why is that a problem?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: stallion ()
Date: April 27, 2008 08:31PM

The secondary, middle, and high schools all have 7 periods running about 7 hours. SCSS has 2 extra periods to handle the overflow so their middle schoolers actually start school until about 930 and don't get out until 4ish. Middle school teachers at that school are paid a big stipend to work those offset hours. Apparently admin and staff are as well.

Just use Hayfield and LB.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin ()
Date: April 27, 2008 09:26PM

Ex-Hawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with
> grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of
> Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but
> has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary
> school with grades 6-12.
>
> BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended
> 9-period day.
>
> Of course, by your logic, why not eliminate Laurel
> Hill elementary school and just add on another 24
> trailers and make South County a K-12 school.
>
> After all, it's just a matter of putting in more
> "seats" for the least amount of dollars, right?


The westfield building, after addition, holds 3100 people, up from the 2500 which SCSS also has. That addition cost 8.7 million, and since the SOCO'ers have 12 million, they can afford that.

http://www.fcps.edu/mediapub/pressrel/3-28-03.htm#pr8

If SCSS is overcrowded by 450, building the same addition onto it will provide for it and leave extra space that will likely be needed by BRAC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2008 09:27PM by KeepOnTruckin.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KoolKat ()
Date: April 27, 2008 10:30PM

stallion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The secondary, middle, and high schools all have 7
> periods running about 7 hours. SCSS has 2 extra
> periods to handle the overflow so their middle
> schoolers actually start school until about 930
> and don't get out until 4ish. Middle school
> teachers at that school are paid a big stipend to
> work those offset hours. Apparently admin and
> staff are as well.
>
> Just use Hayfield and LB.


Very cool... when they ran out of space they moved into the 4th dimension of time and extended the size of the school using the space-time continuum to make all the kids fit.

What's next, sub-space?

Live long and prosper, South County!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: New wing needed at SOCO ()
Date: April 28, 2008 07:10AM

Build the new wing with the $10 million from the BOS and remove all trailers. This wing will give FCPS time over the next ten years to figure out what is needed with the CIP.

Fiscal restraint is needed now.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Fiscal Responsibility Needed ()
Date: April 28, 2008 08:54AM

New wing needed at SOCO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Build the new wing with the $10 million from the
> BOS and remove all trailers. This wing will give
> FCPS time over the next ten years to figure out
> what is needed with the CIP.
>
> Fiscal restraint is needed now.


Yeah, SCREW South County!

When those 15,000 people moved in over the past 5 five years, they should have known this would happen.

They should known that that just because land was specifically set asisde for a high school AND a middle school as part of the federal land swap...

And just because the County, FCPS, and the SB had publicly stated their plans to build a high school AND a middle school...

And just because the School Board clearly stated that a high school would be built first to act as a temporary secondary school, with the middle school to be built once they had all moved in...

And just becuase Fairfax County no longer builds secondary schools...

And just because Fairfax County now has a policy against building ANY school larger than 2,000 students...

And just because the school is now packed, the parking lot full of trailers and an auxilliary gym, and the day extended by a strange split-bell schedule...

REALLY, they should have known that FCPS, the SB, and the rest of the County wouldn't hesitate to SCREW them out of their middle school and keep them packed in an ever enlarging high school acting as a secondary school...

All to try and avoid spending the money needed to provide the only fiscally responsible long term solution.

It's not "fiscal restraint" that is needed, it is fiscal responsbility. We need to solve this problem for the long term, not just look for quick fixes that end up costing taxpayers more in the future and hurting kids right now.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Let the markets work ()
Date: April 28, 2008 09:16AM

Keep SOCO overcrowded. Nobody in their right mind would move into their neighborhoods. Real estate prices will plummet, forclosures will rise and this problem will resolve itself.

That is what capitalism is all about.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Crying towels ()
Date: April 29, 2008 06:49AM

Since the people of SOCO cry the most, even with the most, the SB needs to buy them crying towels.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO CRITICAL READING 522 ()
Date: April 29, 2008 02:45PM

With all the big money that SOCO has and all the bull shit they have why are they ranked in the bottom tier of 25 schools in critical reading average?

SOCO 2007 522


Bradsher and Storck fail again.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 50 million reasons to say NO ()
Date: April 29, 2008 02:57PM

The construction of this school would eat up about 1/3 of the annual construction budget. It makes NO SENSE to build when we can redraw lines on a map.

We do not have the luxury of throwing money away given the tough times ahead. WE have so many schools with serious structural problems that are in dire need of repairs. In a few months, I bet FCPS is forced to delay projects such as HVAC replacement and roof repairs because of lack of funds.

If SOCO wants this school they can pay for it. WITH THEIR MONEY-not ours.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bravo ()
Date: April 29, 2008 05:55PM

Excerpts of the Last Four Arguments Made by Opponents Against Building South County Middle School

"Keep SOCO overcrowded." - from post by "Let the markets work"

"Since the people of SOCO cry the most, even with the most, the SB needs to buy them crying towels." - from post by "Crying towels"

"With all the big money that SOCO has and all the bull shit they have..." - from post by "SOCO CRITICAL READING 522"

"If SOCO wants this school they can pay for it. WITH THEIR MONEY-not ours." - from post by "50 million reasons to say NO"

----------

If only the School Board could be forced to stop discussing and debating this issue in public, and instead just read the above intelligent, logical, and compassionate arguments against building a middle school for the children who live in the South County area, we could end this nonsense once and for all.

There is really not much more to say than what was said so eloquently by the opponents of South County Middle School above.

Bravo!

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: April 29, 2008 08:34PM

bravo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excerpts of the Last Four Arguments Made by
> Opponents Against Building South County Middle
> School
>
> "Keep SOCO overcrowded." - from post by "Let the
> markets work"
>
> "Since the people of SOCO cry the most, even with
> the most, the SB needs to buy them crying towels."
> - from post by "Crying towels"
>
> "With all the big money that SOCO has and all the
> bull shit they have..." - from post by "SOCO
> CRITICAL READING 522"
>
> "If SOCO wants this school they can pay for it.
> WITH THEIR MONEY-not ours." - from post by "50
> million reasons to say NO"
>
> ----------
>
> If only the School Board could be forced to stop
> discussing and debating this issue in public, and
> instead just read the above intelligent, logical,
> and compassionate arguments against building a
> middle school for the children who live in the
> South County area, we could end this nonsense once
> and for all.
>
> There is really not much more to say than what was
> said so eloquently by the opponents of South
> County Middle School above.
>
> Bravo!

There has been no comprehensive public debate on this issue by the school board. They have never even examined out of boundary pupil and progam placements at Lake Braddock. How many SOCO students are at Lake Braddock for GT?

I believe FCPS has been stifled by politicians. How many boundary processes were ever cancelled in the fall? Just this one.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Anonymous ()
Date: April 29, 2008 10:01PM

There has been no comprehensive public debate on this issue by the school board. They have never even examined out of boundary pupil and progam placements at Lake Braddock. How many SOCO students are at Lake Braddock for GT?

I believe FCPS has been stifled by politicians. How many boundary processes were ever cancelled in the fall? Just this one

_________________________

Hang it up taxpayer. LBSS had 3 boundary studies in a row. No project has been given the scrutiny of South County which is why LBSS and Hayfield support it.

You will see that the numbers will bear the project out

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: limensoco ()
Date: April 29, 2008 11:03PM

soco n lime

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO WHINERS ()
Date: April 30, 2008 12:42PM

To all SOCO whiners, what are you drinking that makes you think that if you hold your breath you will get what you want?

Stop being whiners so you can see what you are doing.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO-phobia ()
Date: April 30, 2008 02:21PM

OK, here's an update adding another great argument from the combined wisdom of the SOCO-phobes. Their case against South County Middle School is getting stronger by the minute!

---------------

Excerpts of the Last Five Arguments Made by Opponents Against Building South County Middle School

"To all SOCO whiners, what are you drinking that makes you think that if you hold your breath you will get what you want? - from post by "SOCO WHINERS"

"Keep SOCO overcrowded." - from post by "Let the markets work"

"Since the people of SOCO cry the most, even with the most, the SB needs to buy them crying towels." - from post by "Crying towels"

"With all the big money that SOCO has and all the bull shit they have..." - from post by "SOCO CRITICAL READING 522"

"If SOCO wants this school they can pay for it. WITH THEIR MONEY-not ours." - from post by "50 million reasons to say NO"

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: FCPS and due diligence ()
Date: April 30, 2008 03:12PM

When Carson MS opened in 1998 they did a boundary study

When Westfield HS opened in 2000 they did a boundary study.

When Liberty MS opened in 2002 they did a boundary study.

When South County Secondary opened in 2005 they did a boundary study.

Why wouldn't FCPS do a boundary study for SOCO middle??

What are they afraid of???

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Robin Hood ()
Date: April 30, 2008 03:18PM

"Why wouldn't FCPS do a boundary study for SOCO middle??

What are they afraid of???"

It should be SOCO secondary school as it is right now. I agree a boundary study should take place for the SCSS, LBSS and Hayfield before even considering building a SOCO middle school. This whole thing is ridiculous especially after what happened with the West County RD.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Don't forget Mt Vernon ()
Date: April 30, 2008 03:46PM

Also Lee, West Spfld. We might as well clean house once and for all. Let's address the "efficiency" issues that were so urgent in the West County Boundary Study.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Dohh! ()
Date: April 30, 2008 07:42PM

FCPS and due diligence Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Why wouldn't FCPS do a boundary study for SOCO
> middle??
>
> What are they afraid of???


Ummmm.... gee, how about becaue there is no South County Middle School!

But I like the logic. Let's do a South County Middle School boundary study!

Of course we'll have to build one first.

Dohhh!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SB is short 55 million ()
Date: April 30, 2008 08:36PM

Read this;

Supervisors gave final approval yesterday to a $3.1 billion spending plan that raises the property tax by three pennies, to 92 cents per $100 of assessed value. Most of the new money, about $45 million, will go to the public schools. But it was less than the School Board had asked for -- and that drew a rebuke from teachers, who sent out a sharply worded postcard over the weekend in anticipation of the supervisors' vote.

Save 50 or 60 million and do not build the SOCO middle schoo.


Don't forget Mt Vernon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also Lee, West Spfld. We might as well clean
> house once and for all. Let's address the
> "efficiency" issues that were so urgent in the
> West County Boundary Study.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Mr.Bush ()
Date: April 30, 2008 08:40PM

Stop building new schools and fill the existing schools by utilizing busing students to nearby schools.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SAVE THE TEACHERS PAY RAISE ()
Date: April 30, 2008 09:03PM

So the people of SOCO want a reason why they should not get a middle school?

How about a school budget that is short 55 million.

How about teachers not getting their three percent cost of living pay raise.

Save 60 million and give the teachers their pay raise

FYI


Teachers Criticize Fairfax Budget
School Funding At Issue as Plan Wins Approval

By Amy Gardner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 29, 2008; B01



In affluent Fairfax County, it's never enough. That was the lesson yesterday for the county Board of Supervisors, which approved its annual budget amid criticism -- not for raising taxes but for inadequately funding the public schools.

Supervisors gave final approval yesterday to a $3.1 billion spending plan that raises the property tax by three pennies, to 92 cents per $100 of assessed value. Most of the new money, about $45 million, will go to the public schools. But it was less than the School Board had asked for -- and that drew a rebuke from teachers, who sent out a sharply worded postcard over the weekend in anticipation of the supervisors' vote.

The card, mailed to the Fairfax Education Association's 6,500 members, said supervisors have placed "your promised 3 percent raise in jeopardy." The card was referring to the likelihood that the School Board will trim teachers' cost-of-living increases to 2 percent to balance the school budget in the wake of the county's action.

Supervisors protested the criticism as they prepared to vote on the county budget yesterday. They noted not only that every two of the three pennies in new tax revenue will go to the school system, but also that it is the School Board's job, and not theirs, to decide how to spend the money.

"To suggest that this board has placed in jeopardy the compensation of teachers is disingenuous and unfair," said Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the county board. "It's disheartening, because we're doing everything we can in a deteriorating revenue situation."

Leonard Bumbaca, president of the Fairfax Education Association, said the card was not intended to criticize supervisors but to point out where the budget fell short.

"They have done a lot," Bumbaca said. "But it doesn't change the situation that they didn't go all the way."

Supervisor Sharon S. Bulova (D-Braddock), chairman of the board's budget committee, said school supporters have always wanted more than the county has given them. She said it's a function of living in an affluent county with a vocal community of parents and teachers, many of whom would rather pay higher taxes than jeopardize school class size, teacher pay and other education programs.

Bulova recalled a year when supervisors gave the schools all the money they asked for, and still the School Board asked for more. "No matter what we give them, it's never enough," she said with a smile.

School Board member Phillip A. Niedzielski-Eichner (Providence) said the teachers' group is right to assume that cost-of-living increases could be reduced to 2 percent to balance the school budget. Eligible teachers will still receive step increases, which average 2.7 percent, he said.

"Employee compensation makes up 87 percent of our budget," he said. "So to realize a significant reduction in cost, we have to reduce people." Other likely consequences, he added, include increasing class size, delaying the county's expansion of full-day kindergarten to all elementary schools and postponing expansion of elementary foreign-language instruction.

Niedzielski-Eichner noted that the School Board reduced its budget proposal by $33 million before making its spending request to the county board. He also noted that projected enrollment increases and rising fuel costs eat up much of the new money that supervisors are providing. It's also critical, he said, that Fairfax keep its teacher salaries competitive with those in neighboring school districts to be able to attract the best applicants.

The School Board will hold a budget hearing in mid-May. It is scheduled to approve a final school budget at the end of May.

Supervisors struggled this year with their toughest budget cycle since the mid-1990s. Declining property assessments pinched projections of property tax receipts, federal interest-rate cuts squeezed county investment income, and inflation in gasoline prices pushed operations costs upward.

Supervisors rejected several cuts proposed earlier in the spring by County Executive Anthony H. Griffin, including reductions in performance-based pay raises for county employees and a market-rate pay adjustment for public-safety officers.

They also reduced from 12 cents to 11 cents Griffin's proposal to impose a property tax surcharge on commercial parcels, citing the softening of the commercial real estate market. The surcharge, authorized by the General Assembly last year as part of landmark transportation legislation, is dedicated to road and transit improvements.

Finally, the supervisors found $1 million to create a third "strike team" to police code violations in older neighborhoods, where crowding and property neglect have contributed to blight and a decline in property values.

What supervisors did not do is tap into the county's reserve fund -- because of what they fear could be an even more difficult budget season next year.

"We have to make the prudent decisions," said Supervisor Penelope A. Gross (D-Mason). "They're hard. We have to look at the next year rather than the one that's happening right now. It's not just what's in our pocket right now. It's what might not be there the next time we look."

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO-phobia ()
Date: May 01, 2008 02:43AM

Do you SOCO-phobes understand anything about how budgets operate? You can't pay for annual operating expenses out of capital improvement accounts.

The misunderstanding, ignorance, and intentional misrepsentations on this thread are staggering!

SOCO-phobia running wild!

Flyers Rule!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Annual budget money wasted ()
Date: May 01, 2008 06:21AM

SOCO-PHOBIA Ass hole, where did the $2 million dollars come from that the SB approved for the building of the SOCO MS?

Let me tell you, the annual budget. One more thing, I do not care what account the money comes from because it all comes from the taxpayers.


SOCO-phobia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you SOCO-phobes understand anything about how
> budgets operate? You can't pay for annual
> operating expenses out of capital improvement
> accounts.
>
> The misunderstanding, ignorance, and intentional
> misrepsentations on this thread are staggering!
>
> SOCO-phobia running wild!
>
> Flyers Rule!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: foolio ()
Date: May 01, 2008 07:53AM

who cares???

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ITRADE ()
Date: May 01, 2008 08:50AM

Do they still sell 100 proof SoCo?

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: money in which pot? ()
Date: May 01, 2008 10:20AM

Does it really matter where the money is located? Whether it is in the operating budget or the CIP pool-who cares? It is still debt that we are incurring for our kids.

The School has borrowed $1,000,000-yes one billion so far. The interest on this alone is $50 million. Yes, the BOS pays it -but where the hell do you think the schools get their money??? The more interest payments they make the less money they have to give to the schools for their operating budget.

FCPS spends $2,000,000 per year just to run the schools. 87% goes to salaries. Not a lot of wiggle room with the 13%. Imagine the costs of keeping 184 schools in working condition??? Paving, roof replacements, HVAC repairs-the list goes on and on.

WE DON'T HAVE $50 MILLION TO BLOW ON A SCHOOL WE DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW. We can't keep hocking off public land. There is no assurance that this is our only tough budget cycle-look at real estate, look at foreclosures. We will be doing this again next year.

We need to get wise to the state of the economy. We have to exercise restraint with every dollar that we spend.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: correction ()
Date: May 01, 2008 10:24AM

Sorry-I left off some zeros.

$1,000,000,000 One billion in debt

$2,000,000,000 Two billion for operating budget

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: BOS/SB are out of control. ()
Date: May 01, 2008 11:54AM

If these numbers are correct, both the BOS and the FCPS SB are out of control with our money and they have no idea how to manage using fiscal restraint.

They all need to go.



money in which pot? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does it really matter where the money is located?
> Whether it is in the operating budget or the CIP
> pool-who cares? It is still debt that we are
> incurring for our kids.
>
> The School has borrowed $1,000,000,000-yes one billion
> so far. The interest on this alone is $50
> million. Yes, the BOS pays it -but where the hell
> do you think the schools get their money??? The
> more interest payments they make the less money
> they have to give to the schools for their
> operating budget.
>
> FCPS spends $2,000,000,000 per year just to run the
> schools. 87% goes to salaries. Not a lot of
> wiggle room with the 13%. Imagine the costs of
> keeping 184 schools in working condition???
> Paving, roof replacements, HVAC repairs-the list
> goes on and on.
>
> WE DON'T HAVE $50 MILLION TO BLOW ON A SCHOOL WE
> DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW. We can't keep hocking off
> public land. There is no assurance that this is
> our only tough budget cycle-look at real estate,
> look at foreclosures. We will be doing this again
> next year.
>
> We need to get wise to the state of the economy.
> We have to exercise restraint with every dollar
> that we spend.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: No money from SOCO? ()
Date: May 02, 2008 05:40AM

How much money has the SOCO solution group and the SOCO federation group raised to build the middle school?

What is the status of their proposal to the SB?





money in which pot? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does it really matter where the money is located?
> Whether it is in the operating budget or the CIP
> pool-who cares? It is still debt that we are
> incurring for our kids.
>
> The School has borrowed $1,000,000-yes one billion
> so far. The interest on this alone is $50
> million. Yes, the BOS pays it -but where the hell
> do you think the schools get their money??? The
> more interest payments they make the less money
> they have to give to the schools for their
> operating budget.
>
> FCPS spends $2,000,000 per year just to run the
> schools. 87% goes to salaries. Not a lot of
> wiggle room with the 13%. Imagine the costs of
> keeping 184 schools in working condition???
> Paving, roof replacements, HVAC repairs-the list
> goes on and on.
>
> WE DON'T HAVE $50 MILLION TO BLOW ON A SCHOOL WE
> DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW. We can't keep hocking off
> public land. There is no assurance that this is
> our only tough budget cycle-look at real estate,
> look at foreclosures. We will be doing this again
> next year.
>
> We need to get wise to the state of the economy.
> We have to exercise restraint with every dollar
> that we spend.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Q&A ()
Date: May 02, 2008 10:37AM

Question:

How many SOCO-phobes does it take to create and fill a SOCO-phobic thread on Fairfax Underground?

Answser:

A dozen. Eleven to figure out how to connect to the Internet but just one ignorant, angry, bitter old man pretending to be many by using dozens of anonymous aliases.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO is misinformed ()
Date: May 02, 2008 11:03AM

I think there are a number of parents in surrounding schools who resent the demands being made by the SOCO Crowd. Many of the facts are indisputable-the SOCO crowd just refuses to admit it.

1. This middle school was not promised until 2017. They have not been denied anything. They simply refuse to wait their turn.

2. The school is overcrowed because of one thing-bad planning by Storck and the SOCO community. Everyone demanded to be let in and now there are 450 to many. A self inflicted wound and nothing else.

3. Surrounding schools have more than adequate room to handle the overflow. Many neighborhoods that were sent from Hayfield to SOCO were then sent back to Hayfield. Why not complete the job?

4. The budget/CIP situatation is dismal. Next year it will be worse. There just isn't $50 million to throw around right now.

5. Redistrict this area and let's wait and see what happens to the populations.

That is the prudent thing to do.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ? ()
Date: May 02, 2008 11:08AM

Don’t forget Mt. Vernon! This school was renovated and has empty seats. Move Hayfield and South County students to this school. Mt. Vernon needs students, help this school now!

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Mt Vernon is the achilles heel ()
Date: May 02, 2008 11:32AM

If this School Board continues to ignore Mt Vernon and their 600 empty seats, I think they seriously jeopardize the lawsuit with the CAPS folks.

How can they possibly argue that the needs of South Lakes were immediate yet Mt Vernon is just fine the way it is. Particularly, when you have a bordering school more crowded than Westfield and Oakton were.

Looks like they are in a pickle unless they do something quickly.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: FALSE facts ()
Date: May 02, 2008 11:46AM

Almost everything you wrote is FALSE. Learn the truth below:

SOCO is misinformed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think there are a number of parents in
> surrounding schools who resent the demands being
> made by the SOCO Crowd. Many of the facts are
> indisputable-the SOCO crowd just refuses to admit
> it.
>
> 1. This middle school was not promised until
> 2017. They have not been denied anything. They
> simply refuse to wait their turn.

FALSE: The middle school was "promised" to be built when the new development was completed. In 2004, Gerry Chevelliar estimated it would be needed in 2014. Since 2004, the new development accelerated and was completed 3 years ahead of time. The planned middle school should have been accelerated by three years to 2011, and certainly NOT moved back to 2017.


> 2. The school is overcrowed because of one
> thing-bad planning by Storck and the SOCO
> community. Everyone demanded to be let in and now
> there are 450 to many. A self inflicted wound and
> nothing else.

FALSE: The "temporary" secondary school is overcrowded because development occurred more quickly than anticipated and because of a general trend of increased student enrollment above FCPS projections, particularly in the South County and Lake Braddock areas.


> 3. Surrounding schools have more than adequate
> room to handle the overflow. Many neighborhoods
> that were sent from Hayfield to SOCO were then
> sent back to Hayfield. Why not complete the job?

FALSE: Hayfield does not have sufficient capacity and even Jack Dale has now admitted that Lake Braddock is no longer an option for a boundary study.


> 4. The budget/CIP situatation is dismal. Next
> year it will be worse. There just isn't $50
> million to throw around right now.

Half FALSE: The budget and CIP are indeed insufficient. Fairfax County does not spend enough on education, which may threaten the long term quality of education, a true disgrace for such a wealthy County. However, building South County Middle School would NOT require $50 million out of the current CIP if creative financing were utilized, like that which accelerated South County High School. No school projects on the five year CIP would have to be moved out of their place in the queue,

> 5. Redistrict this area and let's wait and see
> what happens to the populations. That is the prudent thing to do.

FALSE: There is nothing prudent about taking half measures or temporary fixes to solve a long term problem. Procrastination may be the instinct of politicians, but solving problems in the right way the first time saves monehy in the long run. You can't re-arrange the chairs (like on the Titanic) to solve
long term capacity problems. The only prudent thing to do is complete the South County pyramid for the children of this area.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO WHACKOS ()
Date: May 02, 2008 12:34PM

You are full of shit and you are the one who has the facts wrong.

RD now to Mount Vernon.



FALSE facts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Almost everything you wrote is FALSE. Learn the
> truth below:
>
> SOCO is misinformed Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I think there are a number of parents in
> > surrounding schools who resent the demands
> being
> > made by the SOCO Crowd. Many of the facts are
> > indisputable-the SOCO crowd just refuses to
> admit
> > it.
> >
> > 1. This middle school was not promised until
> > 2017. They have not been denied anything.
> They
> > simply refuse to wait their turn.
>
> FALSE: The middle school was "promised" to be
> built when the new development was completed. In
> 2004, Gerry Chevelliar estimated it would be
> needed in 2014. Since 2004, the new development
> accelerated and was completed 3 years ahead of
> time. The planned middle school should have been
> accelerated by three years to 2011, and certainly
> NOT moved back to 2017.
>
>
> > 2. The school is overcrowed because of one
> > thing-bad planning by Storck and the SOCO
> > community. Everyone demanded to be let in and
> now
> > there are 450 to many. A self inflicted wound
> and
> > nothing else.
>
> FALSE: The "temporary" secondary school is
> overcrowded because development occurred more
> quickly than anticipated and because of a general
> trend of increased student enrollment above FCPS
> projections, particularly in the South County and
> Lake Braddock areas.
>
>
> > 3. Surrounding schools have more than adequate
> > room to handle the overflow. Many
> neighborhoods
> > that were sent from Hayfield to SOCO were then
> > sent back to Hayfield. Why not complete the
> job?
>
> FALSE: Hayfield does not have sufficient capacity
> and even Jack Dale has now admitted that Lake
> Braddock is no longer an option for a boundary
> study.
>
>
> > 4. The budget/CIP situatation is dismal. Next
> > year it will be worse. There just isn't $50
> > million to throw around right now.
>
> Half FALSE: The budget and CIP are indeed
> insufficient. Fairfax County does not spend
> enough on education, which may threaten the long
> term quality of education, a true disgrace for
> such a wealthy County. However, building South
> County Middle School would NOT require $50 million
> out of the current CIP if creative financing were
> utilized, like that which accelerated South County
> High School. No school projects on the five year
> CIP would have to be moved out of their place in
> the queue,
>
> > 5. Redistrict this area and let's wait and see
> > what happens to the populations. That is the
> prudent thing to do.
>
> FALSE: There is nothing prudent about taking half
> measures or temporary fixes to solve a long term
> problem. Procrastination may be the instinct of
> politicians, but solving problems in the right way
> the first time saves monehy in the long run. You
> can't re-arrange the chairs (like on the Titanic)
> to solve
> long term capacity problems. The only prudent
> thing to do is complete the South County pyramid
> for the children of this area.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: new schools everwhere!! ()
Date: May 02, 2008 12:46PM

Wherever we have an overcrowded school-let's open a new one!!

Redistricting to neighboring schools with empty chairs is hopelessly irresponsible and a waste of time.

1/3 of our high schools are overcrowded. Let's spend $700 million on new schools.

Great idea. Thanks- SOCO crowd for the input.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Titanic is going down ()
Date: May 02, 2008 01:01PM

The Titanic ( Fairfax County) is going down and all we hear from the SB is different rules for different people.


How can the SB possibly argue that the needs of South Lakes were immediate yet Mt Vernon WITH OVER 800 EMPTY SEATS is just fine the way it is. Particularly, when you have a bordering school more crowded than Westfield and Oakton were.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Anti-RD ()
Date: May 02, 2008 01:34PM

Titanic is going down Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Titanic ( Fairfax County) is going down and
> all we hear from the SB is different rules for
> different people.
>
>
> How can the SB possibly argue that the needs of
> South Lakes were immediate yet Mt Vernon WITH OVER
> 800 EMPTY SEATS is just fine the way it is.
> Particularly, when you have a bordering school
> more crowded than Westfield and Oakton were.


So are you saying that the South Lakes redistricting was the correct decision by the School Board or not?

????

Afraid to answer; that's what I thought.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO CUTTING THE LINE ()
Date: May 02, 2008 02:47PM

To all SOCO WHACKOS, WSHS must be first.


Re: New School Board Members
Posted by: Cutting in line (IP Logged)
Date: May 02, 2008 02:00PM


Please come to a WSHS Community Town Hall Meeting with Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity, Springfield School Board Representative Liz Bradsher and FCPS Director of Facilities Management Bill Mutscheller, to discuss the pressing facility needs of West Springfield High School on Tuesday, May 6th, at 7:00 p.m. in the WSHS cafeteria.

Other invited guests include: FCPS School Board members Dan Storck, Tessie Wilson, Tina Hone, Jim Raney, and Ilryong Moon.

Did you know that West Springfield High School is the oldest high school in the county that has not been--and is not scheduled to be--fully renovated?

Did you know that West Springfield High School currently is not slated to be looked at for full renovation for another 20 to 30 years?

We can't wait that long!

Come on Tuesday, May 6th at 7:00 to the WSHS cafeteria and ask questions and get the facts on renovations for WSHS!

This program is organized and sponsored by the WSHS PTSA.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: No renovation ()
Date: May 02, 2008 03:00PM

If SCSS has to wait for a new school, then WSHS should have to wait until all other current projects on the CIP are finished as well. No cutting

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO buys Liz Bradsher ()
Date: May 02, 2008 03:17PM

SOCO buys Liz Bradsher in order to get a new middle school.



Re: New School Board Members
Posted by: We love you Lizzie!! (IP Logged)
Date: May 02, 2008 03:11PM


This post is a tribute to newbie Liz Bradsher in honor of all she has done and who she has taken care of.

BTW, Lizzie-if you are reading this, did our checks clear yet??

Bradsher Contributors:

Dave Albo - now we know why he is at these SOCO meetings.

William Bachman Fairfax Station 22039

Lawrence Berberian Crosspointe 22039

Jose Cecin Fairfax Station 22039

Peter Dickinson Lorton 22029

Anne Gallant Fairfax Station 22039

Christopher Joseph Fairfax Station 22039

Thomas Moore Fairfax Station 22039

Jeff Fuchs Fairfax Station 22039

Joseph Shirvan Fairfax Station 22039

Michael Powell Fairfax Station 22039

John Rowley III Fairfax Station 22039

Tom Davis ?????????? What does he want do you suppose???

Robert Robertory Fairfax Station 22039

These contributors are all paying Liz for their new school. There does not seem to be any money poring in from outside SOCO community.

WAKE UP WEST SPRINGFIELD PARENTS!!!! If you want your school renovated before it crumbles you need to pay the piper.

Keep up the good work Lizzie. You are worth every penny we spent on you!!

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO buys Storck ()
Date: May 02, 2008 04:22PM

Let's not leave out Dan Storck's VIP list of donors:

Linwood Gorham Mason Neck
Kim Kern LOrton- coincidentally the SOCO MIddle School Solution head
Dave Kyle Lorton
Tom Moore Fairfax Station
Keith and Melissa Salisbury Lorton
Rob Robertory Barrington


All of these contributors are active in this SOCO Middle School crap and remarkably they all live on the border of either Mt Vernon or Lake Braddock.

I guess it is a remarkable coincidence that they felt generous this election year when SOCO money is needed.

This School Board is for sale. Spread the word.

More on Rob Robertory later.......

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Nutthead ()
Date: May 02, 2008 04:43PM

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I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 165,000 other students (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 02:14PM


I am also sick of the people in SOCO. If you are also tired of the whiners in SOCO please post your comments.

We know what they want? EVERYTHING. Where does that leave the rest of us? With the left overs if their are any.

Please read this great post;


I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners and their misguided sense of entitlement to this middle school.

FACT: FCPS is facing a $100 million budget deficit

FACT: Fairfax County has a declining revenue base given the real estate market.

FACT: Many FCPS facilities are in desperate need of renovations-some have not been renovated for 40 years.

FACT: There are 4 schools surrounding SOCO that have 1200 empty seats-SOCO is overcrowded by 450 students.

FACT: Many students in FCPS commute long distances to get to their schools. SOCO families should do the same.

When that dingbat spoke at the SB meeting and stated that she brought her piggybank with $27 million I had to laugh. Who the hell made her queen? She stole $2 million from BRAC planning, she hocked some piece of PUBLIC land for $15 million and the BOS is offering $10 million to shut Storck and Bradsher up. How exactly is that her piggy bank?

This SB is wasting so much time on this garbage someone needs to tell them NO! Maybe then the SB will start giving a damn about the other 165,000 students in FCPS.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Gravis (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 02:45PM


what is SOCO?

_________________________________
I'm pro-abortion, not pro-choice.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: LOLCO (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 02:59PM


what the fuck is SOCO

Now SOVA, I am sick of those people period.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Baffled (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 03:16PM


LOLCO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what the fuck is SOCO
>
> Now SOVA, I am sick of those people period.


SOCO refers to South County. Another either redistricting/building a new school circus is underway. Get popcorn and watch the show if you are interested..probably not from the sound of your post.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCOLOCO (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 03:23PM


. . .sorry folks, but there just isn't 1,6000 extra student placement seats at Lake Braddock, Hayfield, and West Springfield.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ITRADE (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 03:26PM


Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what is SOCO?


Southern Comfort.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 09:34PM


I like my soco with ice


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag (IP Logged)
Date: April 21, 2008 11:12PM


like oh my gawd, soco and lime


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: meh (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 12:02AM


SOCO straight to face in the shieeeeeet


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Not a proud moment FFX (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 08:02AM


This is what the people of SOCO have done to all of the other citizens and children in Fairfax County.

No sex offender unit.
Less detectives.
More Sexual predators


The BOS found 5 million to bond in each of 2 years. Guess other stuff will be bumped on completion dates. P'Caso [sex offender unit] of our police was funded with money procurred via a grant.

FX no longer has the full funding and the county might be short 3 detectives. I would rather fund these detectives and stick some kids on a bus to Lake Braddock.

The BOS made a choice. Sexual predators . Not a proud moment in the history of this county. What about the 2000 student high school target enrollment?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bartender (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 10:25AM


soco n lime


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: thecumbackkid (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 11:23AM


SOCO N LIME PLOX


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 12:53PM






Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2008 12:54PM by bdimag.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: TIRED (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 01:36PM


There are a lot of people who are tired of this bunch of rich people who are bias, elitists and who practice racialism.

If the above is not true, how come they do not want their children to attend Hayfield, Lee and Holly ES.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 01:44PM


What's racialism?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: traits and capacities. (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 01:53PM


496 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's racialism?


A theory that race determines human traits and capacities.

SOCO PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MINORITIES DO NOT MEET THEIR STANDARDS AND DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN AROUND THEM.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: TheMeeper (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 02:44PM


496 Wrote:
>> What's racialism?


That's racist.




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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: bdimag (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 02:45PM


you're all so ig'nant


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 496 (IP Logged)
Date: April 22, 2008 04:07PM


TheMeeper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 496 Wrote:
> >> What's racialism?
>
>
> That's racist.

Thats racialist.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Bull shit coming out of SOCO (IP Logged)
Date: April 23, 2008 12:15PM


This is why people are sick and tired of the bull shit coming out of SOCO. This region is on the brink of tearing itself apart because people there will do anything in order to get new schools in whatever way fits their biases. Racism and bigotry are alive an well in Southern Fairfax County.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: RACIALISM. (IP Logged)
Date: April 23, 2008 12:58PM


Douchebags.

[en.wikipedia.org]


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Gravis (IP Logged)
Date: April 23, 2008 08:41PM


496 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TheMeeper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 496 Wrote:
> > >> What's racialism?
> >
> >
> > That's racist.
>
> Thats racialist.


That's racist!

_________________________________
I'm pro-abortion, not pro-choice.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Citizen (IP Logged)
Date: April 24, 2008 06:28AM


South County area needs to have a complete RD in order to fill all empty seats in schools like Lake Braddock, Lee, Hayfield and Mount Vernon first.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: NEW BUILDING FOR FCPS (IP Logged)
Date: April 24, 2008 09:57PM


Since the FCPS system wants to move ahead with a new building, Gatehouse 2 lets put all middle school students from SOCO into this building.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin (IP Logged)
Date: April 24, 2008 10:52PM


I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the 2 older buildings that were in use prior to gatehouse, The one in Fairfax city by the courts and the old HR building on Edsall Rd, until they just moved into Gatehouse. Meanwhile the schools crumble.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Real Prejudice (IP Logged)
Date: April 24, 2008 11:50PM


So much bias, so much rage, so much ignorance!

All of it directed against people they don't even know.

What an irrational hatred of the people living in South County!

Such SOCO-phobia.

I don't know the facts about the South County school situation, but I damn well know that there is nothing to learn from the hate-filled individuals accusing "SOCO" of the very things they demonstrate with their own words: bias and hatred.

Do Fairfax County and Schools officials or Board members really pay attention to such rantings of a deranged few?

Shame on them if they do.

Hopefully they will realize that the raving lunatic mob doesn't represent anything more than the six or seven people who post all this garbage using various aliases.

I now what comes next, so flame away, I can take the heat.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Tourist (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 10:36AM


The main problem I have with South County is that, when I look at the attendance boundaries, it sort of looks like Italy or maybe post-WW II Yugoslavia. This makes me think that the residents not only get brand new schools, with promises of more to come, but also eat really well, and I get jealous.

None of the other school boundaries stand out this way. If you look at Langley sideways, it almost looks like a profile of Abe Lincoln. McLean, with its attendance islands to both the west and south, looks a bit like a lobster. Stuart almost looks like a Star of David, but it would need to cut a deal with Wakefield (in Arlington) to really pull that off.

Now do you understand why we're so angry?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO stupidity (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 12:03PM


Gatehouse I saved us ZERO money. Read the cost/benefit analysis. Read what FCPS promised in savings and what they saved.

This building cost us our kids and grandkids $60 million smackers and it takes $3.5 million from the operating budget every year.

Gatehouse II will cost us even more money and put us further in debt.

Fix our schools first before we spend another penny on the Kremlin cronies.

After you fill Mt Vernon then we will talk about this unneeded middle school.

We need to take away their checkbook.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Dr. Freud (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 03:31PM


Tourist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The main problem I have with South County is that,
> when I look at the attendance boundaries, it sort
> of looks like Italy or maybe post-WW II
> Yugoslavia. This makes me think that the residents
> not only get brand new schools, with promises of
> more to come, but also eat really well, and I get
> jealous.
>
> None of the other school boundaries stand out this
> way. If you look at Langley sideways, it almost
> looks like a profile of Abe Lincoln. McLean, with
> its attendance islands to both the west and south,
> looks a bit like a lobster. Stuart almost looks
> like a Star of David, but it would need to cut a
> deal with Wakefield (in Arlington) to really pull
> that off.
>
> Now do you understand why we're so angry?

Yes, yes, yes! Finally someone who tells the truth about this whole affair.

It clearly is the Yugoslavian food that everyone is jealous of.

From here on out, it's Shopska Salads for every school in the County!

Of course, if the evil SOCO people had their way, the SOCO boundary would be reduced in such a way that it looked more like a Pentagram.

Also, doesn't Westfield look a little like the Ziggy cartoon in profile?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 04:08PM


Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

Let's see if this applies to any of the posters above:

"Tired" writes about "SOCOs": "There are a lot of people who are tired of this bunch of rich people who are bias, elitists and who practice racialism."

"traits and capacities" writes: "SOCO PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT MINORITIES DO NOT MEET THEIR STANDARDS AND DO NOT WANT THEIR CHILDREN AROUND THEM."

And "Not a proud moment FFX" lays all blame on the "SOCOs": "This is what the people of SOCO have done to all of the other citizens and children in Fairfax County. No sex offender unit. Less detectives. More Sexual predators"

Yeah, I'd say they match what Merriam-Webster was talking about.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: another definition (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 04:23PM


SELFISH:

concerned excessivily or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well being without regard for others.

Hmmmmmm, let's see. Could this describe the SOCO Middle School crowd???


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: IGOTDAJUIC (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 04:40PM


SOCO N LIME JUICE


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 04:41PM


another definition Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Could this describe the SOCO Middle School crowd???

Here's another definition for you:

Stereotype: A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. Typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong.

Sort of like calling thousands of people "the SOCO Middle School crowd" just becuase they are willing to work hard to get their children a Middle School - something that everyone else in FFX County already has!

Do I also need to help you with the words ignorant or prejudice?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Webster is stupid (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 04:57PM


So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock also.

Montgomery County Public Schools was just given $55 million from the state of MD for school construction next year. Their student population is about 20% less than FCPS. If we apply the same ratios to FCPS we would get about $70 million.

The SOCO nuts want it all. They would have us spend 70% of our construction budget on them. And the 30% left-the crumbs-would go to the other 180 schools.

Give me a break.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Citizen (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 08:44PM


IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT WITH THEIR MONEY.

otherwise they need to wait their turn.



Webster is stupid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle
> school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and
> Lake Braddock also.
>
> Montgomery County Public Schools was just given
> $55 million from the state of MD for school
> construction next year. Their student population
> is about 20% less than FCPS. If we apply the same
> ratios to FCPS we would get about $70 million.
>
> The SOCO nuts want it all. They would have us
> spend 70% of our construction budget on them. And
> the 30% left-the crumbs-would go to the other 180
> schools.
>
> Give me a break.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Merriam-Webster (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 09:16PM


Webster is stupid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess all secondary schools deserve a middle
> school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson and
> Lake Braddock also.
>
And that's exactly where the misunderstanding about this entire issue begins.

Hayfield is a secondary school. Robinson is a secondary school. Lake Braddock is a secondary school. South County is a HIGH SCHOOL!

Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock were built 30 years ago as SECONDARY SCHOOLS; that means they were designed from the foundation up to accomodate what was then an educational philosophy of co-locating the middle and high school students in the same building, with some shared facilities and many SEPARATE facilities.

By contrast, South County is the same design as Westfield, which is a HIGH SCHOOL.

South County was built not just because Hayfield was bursting at the seems, but because thousands of NEW homes were being built around the closed Lorton prison property. To provide the same quality education available in every other community in Fairfax, former prison land was set aside to build a high school, middle school and elementary school.

However, because the development was initially expected to take up to ten years or more, the plan was to first build the high school, and temporarily operate it as a "secondary" school. Once the new community was large enough, the midddle school would be built. But, because of the then-hot housing market in 2002-2005, most of the major new housing developments were accelerated and what could have taken up to ten years, took just over three.

Yet, facilities staff refused to recognize this fact and appropriately adjust the CIP to move up the SC middle school. The problem in South County isn't that we have an overcrowded "secondary school", the problem is that we don't have our planned MIDDLE SCHOOL.

But, having middle schoolers in a high school and calling it a "secondary" school doesn't change the underlying reality that it is still a HIGH SCHOOL.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Amazed (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 09:23PM


Citizen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY
> SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT WITH
> THEIR MONEY.
>

Wow, what an amazing statement!

Let's just change a few words to make it more accurate:

If the children of "SOCO" want a middle school, they should build it with their parents' money and staff it with their parents' money.

Is that really how Fairfax County Public Schools operates?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO OWN WORLD (IP Logged)
Date: April 25, 2008 10:25PM


SOCO should split away from the rest of the county in order for them to do their own thing. Your money, your schools, your staff, be happy in your world and leave the rest of us alone.



Amazed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Citizen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > IF THE CITIZENS OF SOCO WANT A MIDDLE SCHOOL,
> THEY
> > SHOULD BUILD IT WITH THEIR MONEY AND STAFF IT
> WITH
> > THEIR MONEY.
> >
>
> Wow, what an amazing statement!
>
> Let's just change a few words to make it more
> accurate:
>
> If the children of "SOCO" want a middle school,
> they should build it with their parents' money and
> staff it with their parents' money.
>
> Is that really how Fairfax County Public Schools
> operates?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: taxpayer (IP Logged)
Date: April 26, 2008 12:17AM


Merriam-Webster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Webster is stupid Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So I guess all secondary schools deserve a
> middle
> > school. Let' build one for Hayfield, Robinson
> and
> > Lake Braddock also.
> >
> And that's exactly where the misunderstanding
> about this entire issue begins.
>
> Hayfield is a secondary school. Robinson is a
> secondary school. Lake Braddock is a secondary
> school. South County is a HIGH SCHOOL!
>
> Hayfield, Robinson and Lake Braddock were built 30
> years ago as SECONDARY SCHOOLS; that means they
> were designed from the foundation up to accomodate
> what was then an educational philosophy of
> co-locating the middle and high school students in
> the same building, with some shared facilities and
> many SEPARATE facilities.
>
> By contrast, South County is the same design as
> Westfield, which is a HIGH SCHOOL.
>
> South County was built not just because Hayfield
> was bursting at the seems, but because thousands
> of NEW homes were being built around the closed
> Lorton prison property. To provide the same
> quality education available in every other
> community in Fairfax, former prison land was set
> aside to build a high school, middle school and
> elementary school.
>
> However, because the development was initially
> expected to take up to ten years or more, the plan
> was to first build the high school, and
> temporarily operate it as a "secondary" school.
> Once the new community was large enough, the
> midddle school would be built. But, because of
> the then-hot housing market in 2002-2005, most of
> the major new housing developments were
> accelerated and what could have taken up to ten
> years, took just over three.
>
> Yet, facilities staff refused to recognize this
> fact and appropriately adjust the CIP to move up
> the SC middle school. The problem in South County
> isn't that we have an overcrowded "secondary
> school", the problem is that we don't have our
> planned MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>
> But, having middle schoolers in a high school and
> calling it a "secondary" school doesn't change the
> underlying reality that it is still a HIGH SCHOOL.

SO MOVE. 2500 hundred seats. If a middle school opens , SOCO HIGH would have over 500 empty seats in 2012.

SOCO was built on the Westfield Design. According to a quote by Rumberger , Westfield was supposed to open as a secondary school.

SOCO used Westfield blueprints because FCPS has STOCK plans for new schools. Dogwood has several twins!!! The fact is Connelly is running for Congress so it seems Tisdadt is going ahead with this. Did the school board vote?

no but Tom, Gerry, Jerry, and Dave did plan the money. What is Storck? The King of underpopulated schools? He'll have SOCO and Mount Vernon after the middle school opens.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SB voted for South County Middle Scho (IP Logged)
Date: April 26, 2008 12:49AM


taxpayer Wrote:

> Did the school board vote?
>
> no but Tom, Gerry, Jerry, and Dave did plan the
> money. What is Storck? The King of
> underpopulated schools? He'll have SOCO and Mount
> Vernon after the middle school opens.


Yes they did, back in January, and the votes were quite clear. The SB voted to immediately begin planning for South County Middle School and voted that upon receipt of $10 million from the BOS, they would build South County Middle School. Here are from the official minutes:

--------------
Fairfax County School Board
Regular Meeting No. 12
January 24, 2008

Official Minutes

The motion to amend the motion to allocate the $2 million in BRAC planning money contained in the 2009-2013 CIP to immediately begin the planning for the South County middle school passed 11-1, with Mrs. Bradsher, Mr. Center, Mr. Gibson, Ms. Hone, Mrs. Kory, Mr. Moon, Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner, Mr. Raney, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Storck, and Mrs. Strauss voting “aye”; and Mrs. Wilson voting “nay”.

The amended motion that, upon the provision by the Board of Supervisors and/or the federal government of at least $10 million in funding or its equivalent designated for that purpose, the Board direct the Superintendent to work with the County to utilize these funds to leverage such other additional funding or financing necessary to initiate a contracting process that will result in the most expeditious construction possible of a South County middle school that does not displace any other project currently funded for planning or construction by the CIP passed 8-4, with Mrs. Bradsher, Mr. Center, Ms. Hone, Mrs. Kory, Mr. Moon, Mr. Raney, Mr. Storck, and Mrs. Strauss voting “aye”; and Mr. Gibson, Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Wilson voting “nay”.
-------------

Sounds like both the SB and BOS have made clear with their votes that South County Middle School should be built.

Get used to it!


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Where is the money (IP Logged)
Date: April 26, 2008 06:16AM


So the SB voted for the MS. Now tell me where they get the $50 million dollars to build the school? They have $12 million now, where does the rest come from? From the BOS? From the SB? From the residences of SOCO?
How many years will it take to build the school?
Lots of questions with very little answers?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ILLEGALS FOR SOCO SCHOOLS (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 12:49PM


Re: More Illegals Moving to Fairfax!
Posted by: SOCO HAS SPACE FOR ILLEGALS (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 12:42PM


Since SOCO is close to Prince William County and they will have three new schools, I suggest that all illegals students should be placed in the three new schools in SOCO.




HooLeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Local
> Crackdown prompts student exodus to other
> counties
>
> Dan Genz, The Examiner
> 2008-04-26 07:00:00.0
> Current rank: # 103 of 4,441
> Virginia -
>
> The number of non-English-speaking students
> transferring from Prince William County schools to
> neighboring school systems climbed again last
> month as families flee the crackdown on illegal
> immigrants.
>
> The vast majority, 623 of about 760 departing
> students, have moved to neighboring Fairfax County
> schools, while 80 selected Arlington and 58 chose
> Alexandria.
>
> State and local school officials are trying to get
> a handle on the impact of a Prince William County
> policy directing the police to inform federal
> immigration authorities when illegal immigrants
> are questioned for traffic violations and minor
> crimes. Supervisors are considering a pivotal vote
> on whether to fund the multimillion-dollar policy
> Tuesday amid a budget crunch.
>
> The transfers from Prince William County to
> Fairfax County are nearly triple the 241 students
> who completed the same transition between
> September and late March last year, and officials
> say the immigration policy contributed to the
> increase.
>
> Critics, including Capital Area Immigrants' Rights
> Coalition director Kathy Doan, contend the
> crackdown has driven hundreds of legal immigrants,
> including the U.S. citizen children of illegal
> immigrants, out of the county as families seek
> jurisdictions with less aggressive enforcement
> tactics.
>
> Virginia School Superintendent Billy Cannaday held
> a regional conference call with top officials from
> 13 school divisions earlier this month to get a
> grasp on the extent of the regional migration.
>
> Cannaday wanted to determine whether the families
> of immigrants were leaving education altogether,
> which he said appears not to be happening, or
> transferring to neighboring districts, which is.
>
> "While Walts informed us that ... enrollments had
> dropped 718 students since Sept. 30, 2007, it
> appears that most of these students may have
> enrolled in Fairfax, Arlington or Alexandria
> public schools," Cannaday wrote in a memo April
> 4.
>
> School officials now say 759 students left the
> school system through March 31, up from a
> preliminary 718.
>
> While the number of students learning English has
> eroded throughout the school year, it follows a
> 1,546-student increase last summer. Teachers are
> still educating 800 more English language learners
> than last school year.
>
> Supporters of the illegal-immigration policy,
> including Chairman Corey Stewart, say the drop in
> school enrollment will save the county $6 million
> in fiscal 2009 and result in at least 40 fewer
> teaching positions next school year.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 03:45PM


Why dont they just build the addition on to SCSS like they did with westfield. That would be cheaper and they would have lots of seats. Or they could just add trailers, but SOCOers are too good for that.

Re: the temporaryness of a secondary school:
How well did that work out for Chantilly? Built as a temporary school back in 1973, its still working without complaints. THey just have lots of trailers and a modular building.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Ex-Hawk (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 05:02PM


KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why dont they just build the addition on to SCSS
> like they did with westfield. That would be
> cheaper and they would have lots of seats. Or they
> could just add trailers, but SOCOers are too good
> for that.
>
> Re: the temporaryness of a secondary school:
> How well did that work out for Chantilly? Built as
> a temporary school back in 1973, its still working
> without complaints. THey just have lots of
> trailers and a modular building.


Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary school with grades 6-12.

BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended 9-period day.

Of course, by your logic, why not eliminate Laurel Hill elementary school and just add on another 24 trailers and make South County a K-12 school.

After all, it's just a matter of putting in more "seats" for the least amount of dollars, right?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KoolKat (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 06:09PM


Ex-Hawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with
> grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of
> Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but
> has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary
> school with grades 6-12.
>
> BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended
> 9-period day.

Can someone explain what a "9-period day" is? Why is that a problem?


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: stallion (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 08:31PM


The secondary, middle, and high schools all have 7 periods running about 7 hours. SCSS has 2 extra periods to handle the overflow so their middle schoolers actually start school until about 930 and don't get out until 4ish. Middle school teachers at that school are paid a big stipend to work those offset hours. Apparently admin and staff are as well.

Just use Hayfield and LB.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 09:26PM


Ex-Hawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Westfield and Chantilly are HIGH schools with
> grades 9-12; South County -- which is a copy of
> Westfield -- is also a HIGH school building but
> has been "temporarily" operating as a secondeary
> school with grades 6-12.
>
> BTW, it already has 24 trailers PLUS an extended
> 9-period day.
>
> Of course, by your logic, why not eliminate Laurel
> Hill elementary school and just add on another 24
> trailers and make South County a K-12 school.
>
> After all, it's just a matter of putting in more
> "seats" for the least amount of dollars, right?


The westfield building, after addition, holds 3100 people, up from the 2500 which SCSS also has. That addition cost 8.7 million, and since the SOCO'ers have 12 million, they can afford that.

[www.fcps.edu]

If SCSS is overcrowded by 450, building the same addition onto it will provide for it and leave extra space that will likely be needed by BRAC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2008 09:27PM by KeepOnTruckin.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: KoolKat (IP Logged)
Date: April 27, 2008 10:30PM


stallion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The secondary, middle, and high schools all have 7
> periods running about 7 hours. SCSS has 2 extra
> periods to handle the overflow so their middle
> schoolers actually start school until about 930
> and don't get out until 4ish. Middle school
> teachers at that school are paid a big stipend to
> work those offset hours. Apparently admin and
> staff are as well.
>
> Just use Hayfield and LB.


Very cool... when they ran out of space they moved into the 4th dimension of time and extended the size of the school using the space-time continuum to make all the kids fit.

What's next, sub-space?

Live long and prosper, South County!


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: New wing needed at SOCO (IP Logged)
Date: April 28, 2008 07:10AM


Build the new wing with the $10 million from the BOS and remove all trailers. This wing will give FCPS time over the next ten years to figure out what is needed with the CIP.

Fiscal restraint is needed now.


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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Fiscal Responsibility Needed (IP Logged)
Date: April 28, 2008 08:54AM


New wing needed at SOCO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Build the new wing with the $10 million from the
> BOS and remove all trailers. This wing will give
> FCPS time over the next ten years to figure out
> what is needed with the CIP.
>
> Fiscal restraint is needed now.


Yeah, SCREW South County!

When those 15,000 people moved in over the past 5 five years, they should have known this would happen.

They should known that that just because land was specifically set asisde for a high school AND a middle school as part of the federal land swap...

And just because the County, FCPS, and the SB had publicly stated their plans to build a high school AND a middle school...

And just because the School Board clearly stated that a high school would be built first to act as a temporary secondary school, with the middle school to be built once they had all moved in...

And just becuase Fairfax County no longer builds secondary schools...

And just because Fairfax County now has a policy against building ANY school larger than 2,000 students...

And just because the school is now packed, the parking lot full of trailers and an auxilliary gym, and the day extended by a strange split-bell schedule...

REALLY, they should have known that FCPS, the SB, and the rest of the County wouldn't hesitate to SCREW them out of their middle school and keep them packed in an ever enlarging high school acting as a secondary school...

All to try and avoid spending the money needed to provide the only fiscally responsible long term solution.

It's not "fiscal restraint" that is needed, it is fiscal responsbility. We need to solve this problem for the long term, not just look for quick fixes that end up costing taxpayers more in the future and hurting kids right now.


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Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: All whiners to Hayfield ()
Date: May 02, 2008 09:44PM

All whiners to Hayfield.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Cash only ()
Date: May 04, 2008 06:53AM

What else did the people of SOCO do for Storck in order for him to push this middle school? Sounds like he operates for cash only and for those who do not pay its down the drain.


SOCO buys Storck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's not leave out Dan Storck's VIP list of
> donors:
>
> Linwood Gorham Mason Neck
> Kim Kern LOrton- coincidentally the SOCO MIddle
> School Solution head
> Dave Kyle Lorton
> Tom Moore Fairfax Station
> Keith and Melissa Salisbury Lorton
> Rob Robertory Barrington
>
>
> All of these contributors are active in this SOCO
> Middle School crap and remarkably they all live on
> the border of either Mt Vernon or Lake Braddock.
>
> I guess it is a remarkable coincidence that they
> felt generous this election year when SOCO money
> is needed.
>
> This School Board is for sale. Spread the word.
>
> More on Rob Robertory later.......

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ffxn8v ()
Date: May 04, 2008 09:36AM

Wow! Simply, wow...


After reading this whole thread (and throwing up a little bit as I did), I do not think I have read such an angry piece on this forum since coming here a few years ago...

To me, it seems that most posts of anger are by those who feel they were "wronged" by the school board in the western part of the county. I figured this would be coming and I imagine it was painful - we heard about it in brief, at the numerous boundary meetings for south county over the years...

In south county, when we went through our first boundary study, it was painful. The worry, the fear, the unknowns... IN the end, it made sense what was done - to some degree. Although there was a bit of creativity in how the plans implemented, did not take everything into acct. that we were told would factor in. Some of the biggest factors it seemed, were ESOL and free/subsidized lunches. Go figure, for all the "wealth" of SOCO...

Anyways, months after this was settled, another hearing was announced. Apparently the FCSD's logic was flawed and there had to be another one done, lines to be redrawn... I found it interesting that one FC official said the Laurel Hill (fancy way to say Lorton) would only contribute 70 students to the new school's numbers. Yes, only 70. Flawed, was right...

So here we are, 2008... We were again, on the verge of having another boundary study done. Upon closer inspection, the numbers which may have caused the push for the study, did not work in favor of ahving one. That, and the promise that IF money was "secured" for planning of the construction, there would be no such study. Promises kept and data reviewed, the study was called off. Thank you Fairfax County!

Now I read that other areas are upset over how the money is being gathered - taxes, land sawps, BRAC, etc. The land swap part is probably the most confusing to me. The Fedeal Govt. had set the (current) land aside for the middle school. That is what it is there for. The swap, would take a tract of land adjacent to the SCSS site and make it available for the SCMS, allowing shared uses of some of the infrastructure at SCSS, or as it would be called, SCHS.

The land swap makes perfect sense. It puts the land currently set aside into a developers hands to build upon, and the MS would be built on a barren piece of land that would otherwise sit unused, just like the Nike Missle sites in other parts of this county. Taking that waste of a piece of land and making a positive function from it, is great, IMO.

Don't hate the players though, hate the game!

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: No more special deal in SOCO ()
Date: May 04, 2008 09:56PM

Because of the below post, most people dislike the political game that is being played in SOCO. Land swapping, creative financing and special favors need to stop. Corrupt SB and BOS members have to go. Before any new middle school is built, we need more roads, more policeman, more fireman and more emergency care.
No special deals with developers who will build more homes and more retail space.

No more BS, we need sound fiscal restraint in fairfax county



SOCO buys Storck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's not leave out Dan Storck's VIP list of
> donors:
>
> Linwood Gorham Mason Neck
> Kim Kern LOrton- coincidentally the SOCO MIddle
> School Solution head
> Dave Kyle Lorton
> Tom Moore Fairfax Station
> Keith and Melissa Salisbury Lorton
> Rob Robertory Barrington
>
>
> All of these contributors are active in this SOCO
> Middle School crap and remarkably they all live on
> the border of either Mt Vernon or Lake Braddock.
>
> I guess it is a remarkable coincidence that they
> felt generous this election year when SOCO money
> is needed.
>
> This School Board is for sale. Spread the word.
>
> More on Rob Robertory later.......

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: ffxn8v ()
Date: May 04, 2008 10:06PM

Roads could have been built by the developers who strained this county for the past three decades (or more). That is a different issue than the "SOCO" MS. Be upset that politicians did not make developers build infrastructure to support homes they put up.

More Police? More Firemen? Says who? Show me your statistics where we have some overwhelming need for more. Each shift is staffed from what I know and OT is cheaper than benefits for another new hire.

More emergency care? For who? I am insured, I get all the care I need or want. Are you suggesting a free health care system for the county? I hope not. I already pay over double what the typical household pays in this county for property taxes on my home, vehicles, etc. I would hate to think (more of) my money went to some county funded welfare for services not really needed.

Wow, just amazing...

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: statistics please ()
Date: May 04, 2008 10:34PM

Show me your statistics where we have some overwhelming need for a new middle school in SOCO? Over capacity by 400, Wow, just amazing...

Being RD to Hayfield is cheaper then building a new MS.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: political BS ()
Date: May 05, 2008 12:34AM

Think about it dears...how did SOCO become overcrowded?


ANSWER: Because instead of letting the facilities people draw the lines and keep the school from becoming overcrowded the day it opened, the School Board members (namely Storck) pimped himself out to the likes of Bradsher and let to many kids in. They took from LB, Hayfield and Lee and guess what? Now they need to send them back to the scools they should never have been taken from in the first place.

Send Newington Forest to Lee and Hayfield or Mt Vernon and save the rest of us $50 million bucks.

I am going to puke if I hear this creative financing BS again. What is so creative about the BOS offering $10 million, stealing $2 million that the taxpayers VOTED ON for BRAC planning, and the selling of public land?

If we don't stop this backroom dealing now we will lose control over all future CIP planning. It will be the WILD WEST with every community cutting their own deals. Let the current 55 schools on the waiting list get their needed funding and stop robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: 60 MILLION ()
Date: May 05, 2008 07:58AM

Since the SB made SOCO over capacity, they need to fix the problem by sending students back to Hayfield, Lee and Lake Braddock.

RD again and save 60 million.



political BS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Think about it dears...how did SOCO become
> overcrowded?
>
>
> ANSWER: Because instead of letting the facilities
> people draw the lines and keep the school from
> becoming overcrowded the day it opened, the School
> Board members (namely Storck) pimped himself out
> to the likes of Bradsher and let to many kids in.
> They took from LB, Hayfield and Lee and guess
> what? Now they need to send them back to the
> scools they should never have been taken from in
> the first place.
>
> Send Newington Forest to Lee and Hayfield or Mt
> Vernon and save the rest of us $50 million bucks.
>
> I am going to puke if I hear this creative
> financing BS again. What is so creative about the
> BOS offering $10 million, stealing $2 million that
> the taxpayers VOTED ON for BRAC planning, and the
> selling of public land?
>
> If we don't stop this backroom dealing now we will
> lose control over all future CIP planning. It
> will be the WILD WEST with every community cutting
> their own deals. Let the current 55 schools on
> the waiting list get their needed funding and stop
> robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Antiquated roads in SOCO ()
Date: May 05, 2008 11:29AM

What will the BOS,the SB and the SOCO whackos do about having old antiquated single lane roards in SOCO with all these new schools. What are they going to do with 100 more new homes, what are they going to do with another large retail store site and what are they going to do with the new golf course traffic?

What will Storck and Bradsher do now?

Sounds like one more large cluster f__k to me by the BOS and the SB.


________________________________________________________________________________

Little Relief For Choked Secondary Roads in Va.
State Funds Slashed By More Than Half

By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 5, 2008; A01



Winding, shoulderless Rolling Road looks like a two-lane country road. But the Newington street has become a major artery, connecting Interstate 95, Route 1, the Fairfax County Parkway and what will soon be a much larger Fort Belvoir.

Thoroughfares like Rolling Road are the blood vessels that connect suburbia, the secondary roads that carry commuters to interstates, residents to supermarkets and children to school. They include Braddock Road in Fairfax County, Colesville Road in Montgomery, and even such larger highways as routes 7 and 50. They are the roads that Washington area residents traverse every day, sometimes several times a day.

Just months ago, Northern Virginia residents and elected officials were expecting hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements to such roads. Now, because of budget cuts and state lawmakers' failure to reach a deal on regional transportation funding, drivers can expect only more misery.

The Virginia Department of Transportation recently announced a 51 percent cut in the region's road-building program. Dozens of projects have been eliminated or postponed indefinitely. And rising maintenance costs are eating away at what little remains.

"My youngest child is going to celebrate his fifth birthday sitting at a traffic light," said McLean resident Julie Hyams, who frequently uses Route 123, which had a key interchange cut from the state transportation budget. "Now the money that was allotted for improvement has gone 'poof,' and the roads are only going to get worse."

Without improvements, Beltway-type backups will soon reach suburban back yards as roads fail to keep up with the region's growth. Cars will continue to wait through four or five traffic signals to make a simple turn. Buses will fall further behind schedule. Even non-commuters will be affected: When feeder roads become crammed, drivers with an eye on the clock start taking shortcuts through neighborhoods, turning quiet streets into major commuter arteries.

"That is as accurate as it is painful," said Pierce R. Homer, Virginia's transportation secretary. The cuts mean that the $43 million Route 7 bypass job in Loudoun County, a 1.8-mile widening project that was fully funded last year, is $18 million short. So drivers will continue to crawl along in four lanes instead of the planned six. The road is rated F by the state, reflecting its stop-and-go conditions. The widening would have brought it up to a C, which means a stable flow of traffic during peak periods.

Leesburg resident William Bethke drives the bypass every day to get to a park-and-ride lot in Herndon, where he catches a Fairfax Connector bus for the 20-minute ride to the West Falls Church Metro station and on to his job in Crystal City. In the 3 1/2 years Bethke has been traveling the bypass bottleneck, the trip has gone from 10 or 15 minutes to 20 or 30 minutes.

But he doesn't think widening the road will solve its long-term problems.

"Those who now avoid it would then use it, and in three years we'll be back to where we are," he said.

Last year, the state announced plans to spend $376 million on Northern Virginia roads other than interstates over the next six years. The revised plan estimates spending $184 million over six years, according to VDOT. The money is targeted at the region's many roads that by VDOT standards are failing.

That cut means the outdated signalized intersection of routes 1 and 123 in Prince William County, where there are major backups during the morning and afternoon commute, will not be improved until after 2014. The intersection sits near Interstate 95, where a widening will soon send dozens more vehicles through it.

"It's terrible getting off of 123 onto [Route] 1 in the evenings," said Barbara Price, a law firm employee who has lived nearby for 15 years. Five years ago, she would budget three minutes to get through the intersection; now it takes 10.

"It gets worse every year," she said. A condominium development being built nearby will make it "even more horrible," she said.

Gone from the plan is $15 million to widen Rolling Road from two to four lanes near Fort Belvoir in Fairfax. It would have relieved F-level traffic that will worsen when an estimated 19,300 jobs are moved to the facility as part of the federal base realignment and closing process.

"They think it's a small road, but it's not," said Amina Imran, who uses it to get to the Parcel Plus store she owns in a nearby strip mall five miles from her Springfield home. The trip can take as long as 15 minutes.

Drivers say Rolling Road needs improvements not only to handle increased volume, but also to fix its dangerous curves.

"It stinks, because the road is two lanes, and it dips. And in bad weather, it's a horrible place to travel on if you don't have a truck or front-wheel drive," said Kristin Hinkle, who lives off Rolling Road and uses it daily to commute to her family's photography studio in Springfield and to pick up her kids from school.

Northern Virginia leaders have long complained that VDOT's funding formula short-changes the region, and that was one of the main reasons local leaders agreed last year on a host of regional taxes and fees that would have raised an additional $300 million a year.

Most of the money raised by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority was to be earmarked for the region's arterial roads, targeting choke points that could be fixed relatively cheaply but would have a big effect on daily commutes. But the state Supreme Court ruled the authority's collection powers unconstitutional.

"One of our larger concerns, as we add capacity on the freeway system, is that it will add pressure on the arterials," said Ronald F. Kirby, transportation planning director for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. "It's a system."

The lack of investment in transportation will be felt acutely in the fast-growing outer suburbs, where congestion also is growing fastest.

According to projections by the Council of Governments, although the region's population will increase 25 percent over the next 25 years, traffic -- measured in lane miles of congestion -- will increase more than 40 percent. In the outer suburbs, congestion is projected to double.

Even some relatively new roads, such as the Fairfax County and Prince William County parkways, need substantial improvements to keep up with explosive residential growth and traffic counts.

"There's a lot of study and consternation going on," Kirby said. "When you get further out, in Fairfax and Loudoun and Charles and Frederick counties, those roads just don't have enough capacity."

On a recent morning, Grant Zachary, a commuter who uses Rolling Road every day, waited in traffic while a driver ahead of him tried to make a left turn. It took three to five minutes for oncoming traffic to clear. Meanwhile, traffic had come to a standstill.

In the six years he has lived in a development off Rolling Road, his short morning drive has gone from five minutes to 15.

"They need to do something," he said while picking up his dry cleaning. "It's loading up fast."

Imran, the parcel store owner, seemed resigned to her fate.

"So it's more traffic and no more roads," she said.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: Roads first ()
Date: May 06, 2008 06:53AM

The answer is simple, without new roads in SOCO no new schools, no new retail malls and no more new homes.

Roads need to come first.


Antiquated roads in SOCO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What will the BOS,the SB and the SOCO whackos do
> about having old antiquated single lane roards in
> SOCO with all these new schools. What are they
> going to do with 100 more new homes, what are they
> going to do with another large retail store site
> and what are they going to do with the new golf
> course traffic?
>
> What will Storck and Bradsher do now?
>
> Sounds like one more large cluster f__k to me by
> the BOS and the SB.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> ______________________________
>
> Little Relief For Choked Secondary Roads in Va.
> State Funds Slashed By More Than Half
>
> By Eric M. Weiss
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Monday, May 5, 2008; A01
>
>
>
> Winding, shoulderless Rolling Road looks like a
> two-lane country road. But the Newington street
> has become a major artery, connecting Interstate
> 95, Route 1, the Fairfax County Parkway and what
> will soon be a much larger Fort Belvoir.
>
> Thoroughfares like Rolling Road are the blood
> vessels that connect suburbia, the secondary roads
> that carry commuters to interstates, residents to
> supermarkets and children to school. They include
> Braddock Road in Fairfax County, Colesville Road
> in Montgomery, and even such larger highways as
> routes 7 and 50. They are the roads that
> Washington area residents traverse every day,
> sometimes several times a day.
>
> Just months ago, Northern Virginia residents and
> elected officials were expecting hundreds of
> millions of dollars in improvements to such roads.
> Now, because of budget cuts and state lawmakers'
> failure to reach a deal on regional transportation
> funding, drivers can expect only more misery.
>
> The Virginia Department of Transportation recently
> announced a 51 percent cut in the region's
> road-building program. Dozens of projects have
> been eliminated or postponed indefinitely. And
> rising maintenance costs are eating away at what
> little remains.
>
> "My youngest child is going to celebrate his fifth
> birthday sitting at a traffic light," said McLean
> resident Julie Hyams, who frequently uses Route
> 123, which had a key interchange cut from the
> state transportation budget. "Now the money that
> was allotted for improvement has gone 'poof,' and
> the roads are only going to get worse."
>
> Without improvements, Beltway-type backups will
> soon reach suburban back yards as roads fail to
> keep up with the region's growth. Cars will
> continue to wait through four or five traffic
> signals to make a simple turn. Buses will fall
> further behind schedule. Even non-commuters will
> be affected: When feeder roads become crammed,
> drivers with an eye on the clock start taking
> shortcuts through neighborhoods, turning quiet
> streets into major commuter arteries.
>
> "That is as accurate as it is painful," said
> Pierce R. Homer, Virginia's transportation
> secretary. The cuts mean that the $43 million
> Route 7 bypass job in Loudoun County, a 1.8-mile
> widening project that was fully funded last year,
> is $18 million short. So drivers will continue to
> crawl along in four lanes instead of the planned
> six. The road is rated F by the state, reflecting
> its stop-and-go conditions. The widening would
> have brought it up to a C, which means a stable
> flow of traffic during peak periods.
>
> Leesburg resident William Bethke drives the bypass
> every day to get to a park-and-ride lot in
> Herndon, where he catches a Fairfax Connector bus
> for the 20-minute ride to the West Falls Church
> Metro station and on to his job in Crystal City.
> In the 3 1/2 years Bethke has been traveling the
> bypass bottleneck, the trip has gone from 10 or 15
> minutes to 20 or 30 minutes.
>
> But he doesn't think widening the road will solve
> its long-term problems.
>
> "Those who now avoid it would then use it, and in
> three years we'll be back to where we are," he
> said.
>
> Last year, the state announced plans to spend $376
> million on Northern Virginia roads other than
> interstates over the next six years. The revised
> plan estimates spending $184 million over six
> years, according to VDOT. The money is targeted at
> the region's many roads that by VDOT standards are
> failing.
>
> That cut means the outdated signalized
> intersection of routes 1 and 123 in Prince William
> County, where there are major backups during the
> morning and afternoon commute, will not be
> improved until after 2014. The intersection sits
> near Interstate 95, where a widening will soon
> send dozens more vehicles through it.
>
> "It's terrible getting off of 123 onto 1 in the
> evenings," said Barbara Price, a law firm employee
> who has lived nearby for 15 years. Five years ago,
> she would budget three minutes to get through the
> intersection; now it takes 10.
>
> "It gets worse every year," she said. A
> condominium development being built nearby will
> make it "even more horrible," she said.
>
> Gone from the plan is $15 million to widen Rolling
> Road from two to four lanes near Fort Belvoir in
> Fairfax. It would have relieved F-level traffic
> that will worsen when an estimated 19,300 jobs are
> moved to the facility as part of the federal base
> realignment and closing process.
>
> "They think it's a small road, but it's not," said
> Amina Imran, who uses it to get to the Parcel Plus
> store she owns in a nearby strip mall five miles
> from her Springfield home. The trip can take as
> long as 15 minutes.
>
> Drivers say Rolling Road needs improvements not
> only to handle increased volume, but also to fix
> its dangerous curves.
>
> "It stinks, because the road is two lanes, and it
> dips. And in bad weather, it's a horrible place to
> travel on if you don't have a truck or front-wheel
> drive," said Kristin Hinkle, who lives off Rolling
> Road and uses it daily to commute to her family's
> photography studio in Springfield and to pick up
> her kids from school.
>
> Northern Virginia leaders have long complained
> that VDOT's funding formula short-changes the
> region, and that was one of the main reasons local
> leaders agreed last year on a host of regional
> taxes and fees that would have raised an
> additional $300 million a year.
>
> Most of the money raised by the Northern Virginia
> Transportation Authority was to be earmarked for
> the region's arterial roads, targeting choke
> points that could be fixed relatively cheaply but
> would have a big effect on daily commutes. But the
> state Supreme Court ruled the authority's
> collection powers unconstitutional.
>
> "One of our larger concerns, as we add capacity on
> the freeway system, is that it will add pressure
> on the arterials," said Ronald F. Kirby,
> transportation planning director for the
> Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
> "It's a system."
>
> The lack of investment in transportation will be
> felt acutely in the fast-growing outer suburbs,
> where congestion also is growing fastest.
>
> According to projections by the Council of
> Governments, although the region's population will
> increase 25 percent over the next 25 years,
> traffic -- measured in lane miles of congestion --
> will increase more than 40 percent. In the outer
> suburbs, congestion is projected to double.
>
> Even some relatively new roads, such as the
> Fairfax County and Prince William County parkways,
> need substantial improvements to keep up with
> explosive residential growth and traffic counts.
>
> "There's a lot of study and consternation going
> on," Kirby said. "When you get further out, in
> Fairfax and Loudoun and Charles and Frederick
> counties, those roads just don't have enough
> capacity."
>
> On a recent morning, Grant Zachary, a commuter who
> uses Rolling Road every day, waited in traffic
> while a driver ahead of him tried to make a left
> turn. It took three to five minutes for oncoming
> traffic to clear. Meanwhile, traffic had come to a
> standstill.
>
> In the six years he has lived in a development off
> Rolling Road, his short morning drive has gone
> from five minutes to 15.
>
> "They need to do something," he said while picking
> up his dry cleaning. "It's loading up fast."
>
> Imran, the parcel store owner, seemed resigned to
> her fate.
>
> "So it's more traffic and no more roads," she
> said.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: I am sick and tired of the SOCO whiners
Posted by: SOCO is rated 22 out of 25 ()
Date: May 07, 2008 05:09PM

According to the CAPS High School Performance rankings, SOCO is 22 out of 25 schools.

Mt Vernon was 24 out of 25 and they have 600 empty seats. Why are they being ignored????

Why was South Lakes such a priority???

I don't get it.

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