Fairfax County School Board to Mull Modular Idea for McLean High School

Updated 4/29/2020 — This story originally said the school board would discuss the proposal. The item was instead on the school board’s list of new items. 

A proposal that would add a modular to mitigate overcrowding at McLean High School heads to the Fairfax County School Board tomorrow (Thursday).

School officials have been trying to find a way to lessen crowding issues at the high school, which has resorted to more than a dozen trailers to accommodate classes.

The draft CIP says that McLean High School is currently at 118% capacity, which are projected to increase in the 2024-2025 school year and could rise even more if the school sees an employment spike due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In March, the school board voted to expand the study of a possible boundary change for McLean and Langley high schools to include the two feeder middle schools.

Elaine Tholen, who represents the Dranesville District on the school board, has said that the original goal to implement the boundary change by the 2020-2021 school year won’t happen.

Tholen told families during a digital town hall last week that the modular idea would be a short-term solution “to make that situation much better.”

Now, the school board will consider whether or not to jumpstart the project by awarding a contract to a bidder, but the board won’t vote on the matter tomorrow.

“Bids were received on March 25, 2020,” according to the agenda. “The bid tabulation and recommendation for award will be furnished prior to the May 7, 2020, School Board meeting.”

The proposed modular addition will be paid for by the 2017 bond referendum, according to the school board.

In addition to the high school modular idea, the school board is scheduled to hear an update on the distance learning plan and the superintendent’s recommended changes to fiscal year 2021 budget.

The meeting is set to start at 10 a.m.