Greg Miller, McLean High School director of student activities, testified in support of funding new scoreboards before the Fairfax County Public School Board in Falls Church on Thursday, Jan. 26. Photo by Fallon Forbush.
The McLean High School Athletic Boosters is leading an effort to approve a $250,000 deal that would pay for three new scoreboards for the high school’s football, baseball and softball fields.
Manassas-based F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc agreed to pay McLean High School $25,000 per year for the next 10 years in exchange for naming rights to its stadium and fields. This deal would pay for all the estimated expenses to replace the aging scoreboards, according to Greg Miller, the school’s director of student activities.
“They are outdated and run down,” Miller said of the scoreboards, which were installed in 1989. “Truthfully, I hold my breath every Friday night football game hoping the scoreboard will function for four full quarters.”
He emailed parents and the school community on Tuesday, Jan. 24, asking them to support the deal by attending the FCPS Board meeting on Thursday night, Jan. 26. The board was to vote on whether to approve the deal. The email also asked supporters to show up and “Rock the Red” to support the school.
The McLean High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association also sent an email on behalf of the boosters the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 25, urging the community to email FCPS board members. The email included a list of board members’ emails and a template message of support. A reminder to attend the school board meeting the next day was also included.
AT 4 P.M., just three hours before the 7 p.m. meeting was to begin, more emails were sent. Only this time, they informed recipients that the FCPS Board had removed the school’s naming deal vote and discussion from its agenda.
“Postponing the item will allow the board members to have further discussion about the policy going forward,” Sandy Evans, chairperson of the FCPS, said during the meeting. “We welcome additional input on the naming policy that underpins the proposal as the board continues its discussion on this policy.”
The FCPS policy states that the school board may consider a change in the name of a school or facility “for reasons where there exists some compelling need.” The process and guidelines for this consideration include conducting public meetings and allowing households to vote. The policy also states that a name change would take effect at the beginning of the next school year following the board’s vote.
While the deal was removed from the agenda, the school board still allowed public testimony on the matter. Miller and two men from the booster club showed up to testify in favor of the deal. There was no testimony opposing the deal.
“Bottom line is, McLean High School needs three new scoreboards,” Jeffrey Grammes, father of a senior at the school, said during his testimony. “The current scoreboards are almost 30 years old and there are no replacement parts that exist anymore.”
Grammes has been a board member of the school’s booster club for the last four years and was its president for the first three.
“If you elect not to vote yes for the agreement, I urge you to include additional funding for the McLean High School scoreboards in next year’s annual budget,” he said.
Miller took to the lectern next.
“FCPS pays for game officials, coaching stipends and transportation, but outside of that, the schools are responsible to come up with the money to pay for most of our athletic needs,” he said.
RUNNING THE SCHOOL’S yearly athletic program costs approximately $95,000, Miller said. Ticket sales to games, which the school uses to fund most of its athletic program expenses, generated $65,000 last year, leaving the school with a $30,000 gap, he continued.
“This financial gap is supported through the hard work of our boosters club and through relationships we build through local businesses,” he said.
Glenn Goldenhorn, a single father of a senior at the school and a booster participant, was the final person to testify on the matter and urge the board to approve the deal.
It is unclear when the board will discuss and vote on the deal, but it is certain that a debate is forthcoming.
“I’m very proud of (the McLean community’s) advocacy and it is important that our schools, our parents and our faculty come to the board to let us know of your needs as you search for a solution to your problems,” Jane Strauss, the school board’s vice chair and Dranesville District representative, said during the meeting.