Alexandria City Public Schools officials took input and comments from community members and parents of students from MacArthur, Patrick Henry and Polk elementary schools this week as the school system quickly moves toward a decision regarding MacArthur’s reconstruction.
ACPS officials announced recently that they are considering postponing tearing down the old Patrick Henry Elementary School for several years in order to use it as ‘swing space’ for about 700 students from MacArthur Elementary. The 1,500-student campus (including the 800 students attending the new Patrick Henry K - 8 school) would still get its planned three new playgrounds, but parking lots would take the place of long-planned turf fields.
Officials are considering putting MacArthur Elementary School on a middle school schedule to stagger drop-off and pick-up as a means to alleviate some traffic concerns.
See an image of the proposed campus below.
“Over the past few weeks, ACPS Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., and City Manager, Mark Jinks, have been exploring the feasibility of using the old Patrick Henry Elementary School as swing space to accelerate the modernization of Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, which will save the city up to $60 million,” according to a letter sent to parents over the weekend.
Unlike the Patrick Henry reconstruction project, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School does not have enough land to build a new school while students continue attending the old school, and finding a 2-year 'swing space' location for 700+ students has been difficult. The cost to rehab the old Patrick Henry Elementary School seems to be around $5 million.
However, residents brought up a laundry list of concerns at meetings this week. Among their concerns:
Parents said they are concerned that this temporary swing space will not ultimately solve capacity issues faced at multiple elementary schools and the high school; they called for longer-term, strategic planning about swing space that can be used multiple times over.
MacArthur parents are concerned about the condition of the 70-year-old Patrick Henry School, which will need significant fixes to the roof, auditorium and HVAC systems.
Original plans called for demolishing the decommissioned school and replacing that space with turf fields and parking for the school and attached community center. Currently, most recreation center users are parking on neighborhood streets.
Residents voiced concerns about safety and traffic for cars and pedestrians, particularly along Taney Avenue west of Jordan Street, and along Latham Street and Peacock and Polk avenues.
Buses have difficulty making turns and navigating around parked cars, and streets are significantly backed up during the morning and afternoon rush. Several residents reported near-misses with students and other cars, and others said they have difficulty backing out of their driveways.
ACPS officials said they cannot hire crossing guards for the area due to a lack of applicants, and police don’t have enough resources to provide traffic direction and parking enforcement in the neighborhood.
Residents also expressed concern about where MacArthur Elementary School teachers will park and where residents will park for the newly-built Patrick Henry Recreation Center.
Input Still Sought
ACPS has an April 4 deadline with the contractor who planned to tear down the old Patrick Henry School building and faces legal and financial consequences for further delaying a decision.
The topic will come up at Thursday evening’s ACPS School Board meeting at 7 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room at 1340 Braddock Place.
In addition, community members are invited to weigh in via an online survey at www.acps.k12.va.us/swingspace.
Residents may also send an email to phproject@acps.k12.va.us.
ACPS
