School Board Winter Update - Western HS Update, Budget Forecast, and More
News from Kyle McDaniel, Fairfax County School Board, Member, At-Large

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Since my last newsletter, we’ve had several significant updates on issues important to our community. I’m pleased to share the latest developments with you.

Western High School

At the November 13 School Board Meeting, we took major steps forward on the future of the new Western High School. The Board approved the school’s programming, confirming that it will open as a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, a step toward addressing long-term overcrowding and transportation challenges in the Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield pyramids. The school will also include a special programming pathway, which may focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, aviation, or engineering.

We also adopted the initial enrollment plan. Western High School will open for Grades 9 and 10 in the 2026–27 school year, with an opt-in process limited to students in the five western pyramids.

At our December 4 meeting, the Superintendent proposed ten names, selected from thousands of public suggestions:

  • Western High School
  • Innovation High School
  • Discovery High School
  • Skyview High School
  • Endeavour High School
  • Bessie Coleman High School – honoring the pioneering aviator who became the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license.
  • Kalpana Chawla High School – honoring the aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut who was the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space and who tragically lost her life in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
  • Sally Ride High School – honoring the physicist and NASA astronaut who became the first American woman in space.
  • Ronald McNair High School – honoring the physicist and NASA astronaut known for his groundbreaking work in laser physics who tragically lost his life in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
  • David Brown High School – honoring the U.S. Navy flight surgeon and NASA astronaut from Arlington who tragically lost his life in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

A new public comment period will open soon, and I encourage you to share your thoughts on these names once the survey is available.

Western HS Finalists Name List
Western HS Name Finalists List Part 2

 

Comprehensive Boundary Review Phasing Transportation

At the December 4th meeting the Superintendent presented her recommendation for transportation related to phasing in the comprehensive boundary review. Her recommendation is for FCPS to not provide transportation services to families choosing to remain in their original base school. Students will still be able to remain at their current school, as the boundary policy calls for, however the recommendation is to not provide bussing services to the old schools. Transportation would be provided to the new school.

This recommendation is driven by the financial challenges associated by acquiring and running 57 more school busses at an annual cost of over $10 million. I am concerned that this would make phasing a privileged option, but at the same time I do understand the budget constraints that FCPS is facing. As we enter the final phases of the boundary review process, please feel free to continue to submit feedback on this issue.

Budget Update

Last week, the School Board and Board of Supervisors held our joint budget briefing to review the fiscal outlook for next year. As anticipated, this will be another challenging budget year, with Fairfax County facing a projected $131 million shortfall.

While economic conditions are outside our control, we can continue advocating for a fairer state funding formula. Fairfax County currently receives only 50 cents for every dollar it sends to Richmond, a longstanding imbalance that forces our local government to fill the gap, an increasingly unsustainable approach. The JLARC study released last year further confirmed that the Commonwealth underfunds K–12 education statewide. FCPS has already absorbed reductions in recent years, and without action from the state, future cuts could directly impact the instructional experiences that make our schools exceptional.

I’m encouraged that this year, the School Board and Supervisors began their collaboration earlier than ever. But to make real progress, we need your help. Please take a moment to contact your state legislators and urge them to make school funding their top priority in this year’s legislative session.

Find your General Assembly representatives here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

FCPS Budget Facts Part 1FCPS Budget Facts Pt 2

 

Committee Corner

At last week’s School Board meeting, the Board approved my proposal to streamline two committees focused on facilities, planning, and development: the Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC) and the Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee (CPDC).

FPAC is currently composed of community members with expertise in facilities and planning, while CPDC includes School Board members and staff. Under the newly approved structure, the FPAC function will be incorporated into CPDC, with five community members joining CPDC directly. This change brings community expertise closer to decision-making, reduces duplicative work, and improves efficiency for both committees and staff. I look forward to seeing this new model strengthen transparency and collaboration.

Thank you for staying connected and engaged. As always, please feel free to reach out with questions or feedback. I value your partnership in supporting our schools and students.

Sincerely,

Kyle McDaniel
Fairfax County School Board
Member, At-Large

Other Updates