Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 22) gave the county school system an extension totaling nearly a full year to submit planning documents for expansion of Centreville High School.
The action did not sit well with the supervisor in whose district the school is located.
“I’m very disappointed,” Springfield District Supervisor Patrick Herrity said as supervisors agreed to extend, to late April 2026, the deadline for Fairfax County Public Schools staff to submit to county staff materials for what is known as a “2232” public-facilities review.
Herrity was irked partially by the extension itself, and in part owing to what he said was the attitude exhibited on the school-system side.
“We’ve got a School Board and a school staff that want to negotiate with the county government and Park Authority like we’re the enemy,” he said.
County Executive Bryan Hill said work between county and school staffs is ongoing to address needs at the overcrowded school.
“We have been working” with school officials, Hill said. “We are looking forward to their helping resolve the situation.”
School leaders submitted initial plans to the county government on June 17, 2024. Under state law, a county’s Planning Commission has 60 days after submission to act on the proposal, or it is deemed approved — unless the governing body steps in and extends the deadline for consideration.
Supervisors on July 30 last year exercised their authority to extend the review period until May 15, 2025, in order for the school system to submit all relevant documents.
The April 22 vote adds more than 11 months to that deadline.
FCPS officials aim to renovate and expand the high school, located on a 36.4-acre tract on Union Mill Road in Clifton, to accommodate as many as 3,000 students — up from about 2,350 today.
The project would increase the interior space from about 325,000 square feet currently to 410,000 square feet.
Planning and design funding was approved by voters in 2021, with construction funding anticipated to be included in the 2025 school bond.
The school system’s website continues to estimate the start of construction by January 2026, with completion by the start of the 2029-30 school year.
Opened in 1988, Centreville High School is fed by Bull Run, Centre Ridge, Centreville, Powell and Union elementary schools and Liberty Middle School, according to the school system.
Also at the April 22 meeting of the Board of Supervisors:
Supervisors salute spelling-bee champ
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 22) celebrated the achievements of Rocky Run Middle School eighth-grader Nikita Ramakrishnan for winning the Fairfax County Spelling Bee.
She will represent the Fairfax County/Alexandria region in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, to take place in August.
Supervisors approved a resolution honoring Ramakrishnan’s achievements, which will be presented at a later date.
Supervisors honor Langley ice-hockey champs
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 22) saluted the Langley High School club ice-hockey team, which in March won its fourth consecutive Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League championship.
The Langley squad defeated Battlefield High School, 6-4, in the championship match. Qixiong Sun scored three goals and James Wu, James Plourde and Ethan Zhao one each, while the defense was led by goalie Harrison Smith.
This championship was Langley’s fifth in seven years and the first under new head coach Bradley Nicholas. For the season, the squad went 12-1.
Supervisors will present a resolution honoring the team on May 13.
Winners of ‘Bus and Maintenance Roadeo’ honored
Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 22) saluted local winners of the statewide Bus and Maintenance Roadeo, held at the West Ox Bus Garage.
Participants competed in several timed events testing problem-solving and technical skills.
Outstanding performances from Fairfax County personnel included a first-place finish for the maintenance team of Joshua Zaragoza, Jerry Salgado and Martin Lopez, as well as a second-place finish on the obstacle course by operator Ramarolahy Rinasoa.
The individuals will be honored at a future Board meeting.
