At Potomac High, this year marks the completion of a major 3-year renovation to the 32-year-old school that brought the addition of 30 new classrooms, the conversion of old outdoor courtyards to a new culinary arts center, a newly expanded gymnasium — now the largest of any high school in Prince William County, a new turf football field, and a newly renovated dining hall and cafeteria.
While enrollment numbers at the high school remain below capacity, that is expected to change. Construction has just begun nearby on a new neighborhood, Potomac Shores, where some 4,000 homes and a new town center will be built along the Potomac River.
“We expect our enrollment to increase to as many as 2,300 once Potomac Shores is built,” said Principal Michael Wright, 53, who is returning to the school for a second year as it’s top administrator. “We’re not at capacity yet, but we’re pretty sure we’ll get there.” –
How nice to have one of our schools under-capacity. That means kids can go through the halls easier, scheduling is easier, students can get the classes they want, classrooms aren’t bulging at the seams. The under-capacity status will all come to a screeching halt as soon as new homes are completed in Potomac Shores and families start moving in.
When you add 2,300 students to an existing school, what you are really saying is, new high school. You are also saying 3-4 new elementary schools and 2 middle schools.
Potomac Shores as been on the books for a long time. Its story is disjointed and full of gaps. It isn’t necessarily the doings of the current board of supervisors. However, unfettered growth does have its consequences. The three short paragraphs above in a local online newspaper have encapsulated the issue:
Build 4,000 new homes and town center, prepare to build schools–lots of them. Those 4,000 homes also will stress the library system, existing traffic patterns, water and sewage, fire and rescue–all the infrastructure. 4000 homes also equals approximately 8000 new kids. equals about 320 new teachers.
Who pays for all this? Has the builder proffered new schools and infrastructure? Of course not. You will be paying for it if you live in Prince William County. it doesn’t get any more basic than that.
The investments those developers made in buying supervisors (err, sorry, campaign contributions) are paying off very well.
I don’t even know when that pact with the devil was made. 20 years ago?
A VRE rail was promised also. I wonder if that will come to fruition.
This time every year when the kiddos go back to school and the school bus drivers learn their new routes and the traffic backs up behind them on rt. 234 and you have to rely on the dwindling kindness of strangers to make a left turn, you’re reminded of over-development.
“….dwindling kindness of strangers.” That phrase captures quite a bit. Pretty much sums up what’s wrong in America. It’s much easier and healthier to be nice.
Potomac Shores is a fascinating piece to read when you look at the final approval by the BOCS to move forward as to what is proffer and what is not. Lots of transportation, and schools were included – although like all proffers, the initial proffer turns out to be way, way below the reality in the outyears.
One thing interesting though…there was a contribution to both the Boys & Girls Club and Sentara NoVA Medical Center because of the “impact” from development. First time I ever saw that in any deal anywhere. Not a true “proffer”…more like a way to “sweeten the pot” as the documents went for approval.
Latchkey kids and sick people…their prognosis isn’t so good is it?
Ray, it looks like the BOCS has found an alternative way to pick “winners and losers” now that they can’t use their discretionary funds anymore.