To the Editor:
We face a very serious situation in Fairfax County. Today, there are approximately 14,000 students attending classes in more than 500 trailers in our public school system. School enrollment is expected to increase by 15,000 students over the next seven years, creating additional overcrowding. This situation is not acceptable for a county that prides itself on demanding excellence in education.
Excellent schools and facilities contribute to a quality education and provide economic value to the entire community. They attract and retain top-flight companies and their employees. They increase the value of our homes. They reduce crime. Good schools are a mainstay to the quality of life that county residents enjoy.
On Nov. 4, there will be a $290.61 million bond referendum on the ballot. This referendum will add approximately 228 new classrooms that will accommodate roughly 6,000 students. Sixty-one million dollars is appropriated to add permanent additions to three existing schools, while modular additions will be added to 16 schools (these "semi-permanent but relocatable" additions usually take the time to construct at the cost of permanent structures). Renovations of $191 million will take place at four middle- and high-school facilities. Fourteen million dollars have been earmarked to support growing technology and security needs — at schools that will not be renovated.
Approximately 70 percent of Fairfax County residents do not have children in Fairfax County Public Schools, but they too will benefit from increased and improved facilities, for meetings, classes, recreation and other purposes. The FCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services provides more than 97,000 senior citizens meals annually at 23 school sites. One hundred and fifty-five schools are used as polling places for elections. One hundred and twenty-eight schools serve as sites for School-Age Child Care Program. In 2002, over 9,000 applications were processed for school facility use, representing over 1 million individuals!
The use of bonds avoids taking funds that are critically needed for classroom instruction to use for school construction and renovation. Bonds spread the financing of required school construction over the improvements’ usable life. Selling bonds authorized by this referendum will not affect Fairfax County’s AAA Bond rating. In fact, the total amount of this year’s bond referendum is lower than the last two in 1999 and 2001.
Making our schools the best they can be and ensuring that every student learns in the proper education environment should be a priority of every Fairfax County citizen. If we work together, we can make it happen.
Arthur E. (Bud) Morrissette IV,
Chairman
Fairfax County Citizens
For School Bond ‘03