In one of the most correct headlines I've seen lately, the Gainesville Times [www.timescommunity.com] notes "Elementary boundaries raise ire in Bristow".

In December, school officials released a plan that would shuffle students all over western Prince William, but most notably would move about 58 Amberleigh Station children from Bristow Run Elementary to Glenkirk Elementary. After Amberleigh Station parents objected strongly to that idea during a public meeting in December, the planning committee went back to the drawing board and came up with two additional options.

Last Wednesday, David Beavers, the school system's chief of long-range planning, explained all three plans to a crowd of parents who turned out at Glenkirk to get information and to voice their opinions.

This time, it was Bridlewood Manor parents who were angry. One of the three plans, Boundary Plan 3b1, would allow Amberleigh Station children to stay at Bristow Run by instead moving the Bridlewood Manor community from Bristow Run to Victory Elementary.

A coalition of Bridlewood Manor parents argued that their children had already been moved from Bristow Run to Cedar Point and then back to Bristow Run. They said they had accepted each move as a necessary step to alleviate overcrowding, but now they've had enough.

School populations continue to grow and the school system, while going as fast as possible, just can't keep up with the growth. The schools in the area project student populations in excess of 100% of capacity year after year. District boundary maps and other interesting info can be found on the PWCS site [www.pwcs.edu].

If you'd like ot comment or become involved, the Somerset planning page notes:

Two opportunities for addressing the School Board prior to their vote on the Elementary Boundaries for 2006-07:

- February 1, 2006: Citizens' Comment Time
- February 22, 2006: Public Hearing on Boundaries.

Citizens may also e-mail comments and suggestions to the School Board members

Citizens who wish to address the School Board under citizens comment time must notify the Board Clerk in writing, by telephone, or by Email (select) at the address below prior to 12:00 noon on the day of the Board meeting:

Clerk to the School Board
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108
Telephone: 703-791-8705
E-mail: pwcsclerk@pwcs.edu

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