Whereas, an excellent public school system adds value to the neighborhoods, homes, and businesses that it serves, and

Whereas, the Fairfax County public school system is of the highest quality, thereby providing the citizens of Fairfax County with all the benefits such as a system can provide, and

Whereas, the system needs to provide new space both for an estimated 20,000 additional students by the year 2011 and to reduce extant overcrowding that results in a deficit of 590 elementary classrooms and almost 2900 student spaces at the middle school level that is provided for by trailers, some modular units, and a slight increase in class size, and

Whereas, modular units included for the first time in a school bond referendum provide classroom space at about one half the cost of new construction, can be built in one half the time, and may have greater flexibility in relocation with changes in school populations, and unlike trailers include bathrooms and instruction support space, and

Whereas, over 75% of our schools are over 25 years old, and the system’s current facilities need upgrades both to improve learning opportunities and to enhance community use of those facilities, and to improve the technology infrastructure so that today’s communication standards can be met and current quality levels maintained, and

Whereas, school building renovations and renewals extend the useful life of current facilities by more than 20 years, and thereby reduce the need for construction of new facilities, and

Whereas, the current school bond referendum will, if approved, provide the Fairfax County Public School system the funding it needs to provide about $81 million for 3 new elementary schools, plus 1 addition to an elementary school as well as 14 modular units, and about $255 million for renovations, $22 million for technology upgrades and $20 million for infrastructure management including approximately $1.8 million for bonds costs, and will do so without the need for any tax increases in Fairfax County. Furthermore, Fairfax County has managed its bond issues so as to maintain the top lending rating, and.

Whereas the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations is aware of the suggestion to encourage public-private relationships to improve or construct school buildings, the Federation believes that this warrants careful consideration for the future but notes that even the proponents of such arrangements support the bond referendum to meet the immediate and critical needs of the schools.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations supports the 2001 School Bond Referendum for $388 million, which will provide funds to renovate older schools, to upgrade existing technology infrastructure, and to plan for other renovations and additions; and urges its members to support the referendum in their communities and to vote for its approval.