Falls Church Groundbreaking Ceremony is ‘Roaring’ Occasion

Dozens of excited students, and TJ the Tiger, marched onto the playground Monday morning to see City of Falls Church and Falls Church City Public Schools officials break ground on a new project. The $3 million project, funded by a won from the Commonwealth in March, will bring 12 new classrooms, removing current trailers, a new cafeteria and library. School Principal Robert Palermo said at the completion of the project, fifth grade students will return to Jefferson.

“I think it means needed space for growth,” Palermo said Monday. “I think it will be great to have fifth grade back at TJ.”

FCCPS Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin said construction will begin between late 2011 and early 2012. She said there is still some planning that needs to be done before construction can officially begin. The project calls for construction to take place where the current playground is. Palermo said it will be a priority to have adequate space for students to play. Construction should be completed before the 2013-2014 academic year.

In her classroom mode, Berlin, who will retire on June 30, asked students “what are facilities,” and hurried from behind the podium with a microphone for an answer from a student during the cool, breezy, outdoor ceremony. Joined by incoming superintendent , Berlin said she will be watching the progress of the construction from afar.

Jones, who officially joined FCCPS June 13, said the groundbreaking was a great event.

“It’s a wonderful way to start,” Jones said. “It’s great to know all these groups have worked together on this.”

Senator Dick Saslaw (D-35th District) also attended the ceremony. Saslaw, who has the City of Falls Church in his district after redistricting, said he is learning Falls Church and is impressed with the construction at Jefferson. He said several schools throughout northern Virginia have trailers to compensate for a lack of classroom space. He said Jefferson is moving in the right direction with the construction.

“That’s one of the many problems we’re having in northern Virginia,” Saslaw said. “This should hold them for a while.”

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.