Nobody disputes that Parklawn Elementary School in Lincolnia and Coates Elementary School in the McNair area south of Herndon are severely overcrowded.
But whether to address the issue through individual boundary adjustments at the two schools this year — as proposed in a capital improvement program (CIP) approved last year — or wait for a countywide redistricting effort in 2026 is causing a fissure among Fairfax County School Board members.
“This is something that could have been done last year, perhaps should have been done last year,” at-large board member Ilryong Moon said at the board’s meeting last Thursday (March 13). “We cannot wait for another year to go by.”
His view was echoed by Mount Vernon Representative Mateo Dunne, who said he “strongly” supports a proposal to move forward in formulating boundary-adjustment plans for the two schools this year.
Dunne said it’s unfair to cram students into Parklawn and Coates while other buildings have empty space.
“There’s plenty of room in our schools,” Dunne said, arguing that Fairfax County Public Schools just needs to balance out the student populations in between over-capacity and under-capacity buildings.
However, with FCPS in the midst of a countywide boundary review process that kicked off last fall and is expected to wrap up in early 2026, several other board members wanted to wait.
Sully District Representative Seama Dixit and Rachna Sizemore-Heizer of Braddock District said doing stopgap boundary adjustments for Coates and Parklawn, which could affect dozens of schools that surround them, would be counterproductive in advance of the countywide effort.
“I don’t think duplication of effort is the way to go,” Dixit said.
“There already is so much angst and uncertainty,” Sizemore-Heizer added. “Change is hard, and proposing two different uncertainties and two different changes? I have a lot of heartburn.”
Both Sizemore-Heizer and Dixit were out of the room when other board members quickly and with no dissenting voices approved a scope for boundary adjustments to Coates, which has 983 students and is at 137% capacity with 20 temporary classrooms.
The duo raised concerns about moving forward during the subsequent discussion about the scope of a boundary study for Parklawn, which has 949 students — right up against FCPS’ unofficial maximum limit of 950 — and relies on 19 trailers and a 10-classroom modular building to accommodate overflow.
Ricardy Anderson, who represents Mason District where Parklawn is located, appeared visibly irked that Sizemore-Heizer and Dixit were raising objections during the Parklawn discussion after they were absent for the discussion and vote on Coates.
Anderson said the “sea of classrooms outside” at Parklawn needs to be addressed.
“This issue has been plaguing the school for a number of years,” she said.
Sizemore-Heizer then pulled FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid into the discussion. Acknowledging that there’s a need to reduce crowding at the two schools, Reid suggested it would be “very difficult” to get it done in time for the 2025-26 school year.
She suggested incorporating studies of the two schools into the broader look at countywide boundaries, rather than moving ahead this year.
“Subsuming this into the overall boundary review is the best use of our staff time and resources,” Reid said.
But on a 10-0 vote, with Sizemore-Heizer and Dixit abstaining, the school board opted to direct staff to move forward with the study for Parklawn, as they had earlier with Coates.
As it now stands, the following schools will be included in the boundary adjustment studies:
Parklawn: Annandale Terrace, Bailey’s, Bailey’s Upper, Belvedere, Braddock, Bren Mar, Columbia, Glen Forest, Mason Crest, Sleepy Hollow, North Springfield and Weyanoke. In addition, adjustments to Belvedere and Canterbury Woods elementaries will be considered to even out enrollment in Advanced Academic Program Level IV classes at Parklawn.
Coates: Armstrong, Clearview, Dranesville, Dogwood, Fox Mill, Floris, Herndon, Hutchison, McNair, McNair Upper and Oak Hill elementary schools
That doesn’t mean boundary changes will take place this year, but it keeps the issue alive. Staff estimated options for adjusting boundaries around the two schools could be available for public discussion by May.
After the votes, Sizemore-Heizer attempted to introduce a follow-up measure to have the boundary studies incorporated into the broader redistricting effort, but Board Chair Karl Frisch, who represents Providence District, ruled that it couldn’t be taken up until the board’s next meeting.
Dranesville School Board Representative Robyn Lady, whose district includes Coates Elementary, acknowledged concerns about potentially revising the school’s boundaries twice in two years.
“I don’t want students to be moved, and then moved again, as a result of a full boundary study,” she said.
But at the same time, something has to be done to help the county’s most overcrowded schools, Lady added.
“They are bursting at the seams,” she said.
Armstrong Elementary expansion approved
In other actions during last week’s meeting, the school board awarded a $37.36 million construction contract for renovations to Armstrong Elementary School in Reston.
San Jose Construction Corp. was the low bidder from among five firms.
The 27,000-square-foot expansion will bring the school’s capacity to 800 students. Construction will start in coming months, with completion anticipated by the start of the 2027-28 school year.
Funding for the project was approved by voters in bond referendums held in 2021 and 2023.
Synthetic turf replacement projects pass
Board members awarded contracts for replacement of synthetic-turf fields at Hayfield Secondary School and Chantilly, Justice and South County high schools.
Hellas Construction received the contracts. As part of the projects, which will each cost between $816,900 and $967,100, crumb-rubber infill will be removed and replaced with organic materials.
Field lights to be replaced at McLean High
Board members approved a $371,749 contract with Mucco Sports Lighting for the replacement of field lighting on the track and football field at McLean High School.
Playground renovation wins approval
The school board approved a $386,944 contract with Centennial Contractors Enterprises for a replacement of playground equipment at Marshall Road Elementary School in Vienna.
The firm has completed similar projects at a number of schools across the county.
