Over-crowded classrooms are one of the most significant challenges facing our community. Data in recent years show Prince William County to have some of the most crowded classrooms in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. This problem isn’t new – overcrowded classrooms have been a problem for several years. This problem has many possible causes; housing policy and th
This problem isn’t new – overcrowded classrooms have been a problem for several years. This problem has many possible causes; housing policy and the lack of education funding prioritization are two obvious reasons. However, finger-pointing and assigning blame are not marks of leadership. We need our leaders to come together on solutions.
The efforts of Brentsville School Representative Gil Trenum and Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland have been great examples of leadership on the development of the County’s 13th high school. Working with Prince William County Schools staff, Mr. Trenum gave the community an alternate design known as the PRICE model. This new prototype for the next high school would increase student capacity at a time when it is greatly needed. PRICE stands for “Patriot Redesign Increasing Capacity Effectively.”
Due to the increased size of a PRICE model there would be additional cost. This model will cost about $9 million more than the Battlefield model, but will provide room for 500 more students. It was that additional cost that was used as an excuse to defeat a bi-partisan effort to approve the PRICE model last June by School Board Chairman Ryan Sawyers and the School Board. Yes, it would be more expensive, but the per-student cost in increased capacity would be the most economical solution to address the classroom overcrowding issue. When considering other questionable expenditures by both the existing School Board and the previous School Board, there is clearly a problem with how our schools prioritize funding at a time when government resources are limited.
The Revenue Sharing Agreement between our Board of County Supervisors and School Board is restrictive in allowing additional money to be provided to our schools on an as-needed basis. In previous years, a solution to this problem has been to provide additional funding for the education in the form of grants.
At the October 18 Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) meeting, Supervisor Candland announced that he would introduce a solution to provide additional grant funding for the PRICE model for the 13th High School. Specifically, this proposal will authorize an agreement between the BOCS and School Board and identify funding from the County general revenues to pay for the cost difference between the PRICE model and the previously approved Battlefield model. At the upcoming November 22 Board meeting, the BOCS will vote on this proposal.
Although it is slightly more expensive, passage of this resolution would be a crucial step toward solving the overcrowding of our high schools. We hope you will join us in supporting Supervisor Candland’s resolution at the next Board of County Supervisors meeting on November 22nd.
