Enrollment is declining at Clifton ES?
The Whole Truth: The attendance area of Clifton ES - the largest in the county and making up over 10% of the county's geography - is supported by THREE zip codes: 22030, 22039 and 20124. Projections for future enrollment were based on only 20124, excluding a large population of students.
THE WHOLE TRUTH...
Clifton ES has contaminated well water?
The Whole Truth: The professional fix on the Clifton ES well was "inexpensive" per Dean Tistadt, FCPS Chief Operating Officer and requires no annual operating expenses as reported in the Final Staff Report. The professional report was available July 2, 2010, six days before the School Board voted to close Clifton ES for, in part, reliability of its well water.
The Issue? Clifton ES' Closure...
The Fairfax County School Board says its decision to close Clifton Elementary was based on higher renovation costs, reliability of the water supply and declining enrollment.
FCPS Link see Question 9
Costs are higher to renovate Clifton ES?
The Whole Truth: Renovation costs for Clifton ES per the FCPS Final Staff Report, dated May 3, 2010 are not only comparable to other FCPS schools in the Capital Improvement Program, they are LOWER than many schools.
FCPS announced big savings in renovations and additions due to lower bids on construction costs just days after the vote to close Clifton ES. Full Story
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered;
the point is to discover them."
Galileo
Friends of Community Schools is committed to raising awareness on matters affecting community schools throughout the county as transparency on issues is critical for the well-being of Fairfax County and all of its residents and taxpayers.
"A diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty."
James Madison, 1825
