If WJLA really wanted to do a news story that would have benefited the community, and education in general, you could have done a story on any of the following points which would have been a much better usage of airtime:

 

1. 7,500+ students in the redistricting area have limited opportunities due to overcrowding and under-enrollment at 3 of the high schools. This does not allow our children to learn in the best manner possible, which is beyond reproach.

 

2.  The current scenario is a waste of Fairfax County tax-payers’ dollars. Dollars are spent on classroom trailers instead of education programs for all of our children.

 

3.  South Lakes HS has a wonderful new Principal and has many fabulous programs that are committed to the diversity of the school.  The constant perpetration of false, negative perceptions of South Lakes takes a toll on the entire South Lakes community.

 

4.  Test scores directly reflect the socio-economic levels in the school.  FCPS is trying to reduce disparities in test scores between the schools by reducing the socio-economic disparities.  This would be advantageous for everyone in Fairfax County because all of our schools will be stronger.  This is not “social engineering”, this is good sense.

 

5.  1,000+ students are commuting to high schools that are 30 - 45 minutes away when there are 700 available seats in a good school that is 15 minutes away.  We are currently facing rising gas prices, pressures from lack of time, horrendous traffic congestion, and major concerns about inexperienced teenage drivers.  This is a huge concern for many parents who support the redistricting.

 

6.  The small percentage of people who will be negatively affected by this redistricting just does not justify the continuation of a situation that negatively affects the rest of the children, families and citizens in this area.  I thought that democracy represented the best interests of the majority.