A Tiger-Worthy Roar of Approval for FCCPS Board's Win of $3M Bond

Collective whoops of delight could be heard around Falls Church City this morning, as parents of school-aged children received the Falls Church City Public Schools’ “Morning Announcements” in their e-mail boxes. One of the top stories was a big one indeed and an announcement that parents have been waiting to hear ever since December: The proposed expansion to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School just took a $3 million step closer to reality.

In what the School Board is calling a decisive victory, the City was only one of 33 school divisions in Virginia to secure an award from the Virginia Department of Education in the $229 million round. While the full amount requested ($5.95 million) was not awarded, the no-interest, $3 million Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) will be used to address overcapacity in Falls Church schools at the lowest cost possible to the City taxpayer, with the right-sizing and expansion of Thomas Jefferson a priority. The School Board, City Council and Planning Commission will also discuss how the award of $3 million can be supplemented to achieve a project that best addresses the capacity needs at TJ Elementary.

The win is a big one for taxpayers, too: it will save approximately $1.3 million in interest charges compared to a similar project funded through traditional municipal bond efforts. 

"We are thrilled by and grateful for the state's decision,” said School Board Chairman Joan Wodiska. “A year from now, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School will hit capacity. Our City needed the tremendous financial opportunity and assistance afforded through a QSCB to meet growing student populations, create a 21st century learning community, and eliminate trailers. The state's announcement comes at a critical time for the City. 

School Board Member Greg Rasnake added, “We are very excited about this news, and obviously we have the support of the entire community, including City Council, the Planning Commission and the Long Range Financial Work Group. We look forward to working with the community to use this money in the best way possible for our students.”

FCCPS' winning application proposed:

•   Right-sizing the Thomas Jefferson cafeteria so it meets the needs of the City's growing student population;
•  Adding 12 new classrooms to the current facility;
•  Removing trailers from the current Thomas Jefferson site; and
•  Providing wireless Internet at Thomas Jefferson, while also providing free Wi-Fi to low-income students to support learning outside of the school building.

Detailed planning for the Thomas Jefferson expansion project will begin immediately.  School officials expect construction to be completed for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

"I've heard from many parents today who are absolutely thrilled that our school system has been successful at securing funding for the expansion of Thomas Jefferson,” said Jeanne Duross, president of the Falls Church City Elementary PTA. “The School Board's plans and the QSCB funding are essential to ensuring that our children continue to receive the world-class education that is the hallmark of Falls Church City."

The Thomas Jefferson plans are part of a comprehensive long-term facilities effort led by the School Board.  The full FCCPS School Board Facilities plan, Falls Church's winning QSCB application and recent work of the School Board Facilities Advisory Work Group, now known as LEAPFROG or Long-range Education, Architecture, Planning, Finance, Research and Outreach Group - a collaborative effort of the School Board, City Council, and Planning Commission - can be found at www.fccps.org/facilitystudy.