Editorial: FCPS must renovate McLean

NOTHING CONCRETE

McLean High School needs a renovation now

The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

From the leaking ceilings and broken air conditioning systems to the flooded bathrooms, McLean’s outdated building is on the verge of falling apart. It’s clear that McLean is in desperate need of a renovation.

For years, the school has faced the same recurring problems throughout the building. However, because McLean received a renovation in the 2000s, it is not part of the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which includes funding for renovation projects at three high schools. Major renovations must be voted on and implemented by the FCPS School Board.

Even though McLean received a renovation back in the 2000s, it should not be at the bottom of FCPS priorities considering the school’s current need for one.

One of the major problems in the building is the quality of the bathrooms, which are barely usable. Water fountains also rarely work properly, so while water is flooding in the bathrooms, it is hard to find any to drink.

The air conditioning system is another gripe. It causes classroom temperatures to fluctuate from freezing cold to scorching hot, making focusing on learning a challenge.

“Everything needs to be upgraded, especially our HVAC system,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “We joke that we often get all four seasons in one day when you’re in the building.”

In short: the building is decomposing. Students and staff witness holes in the ceiling, missing tiles and cracks in the hallway every day.

“One day the building seems fine, and another day something is broken down,” sophomore Caitlyn Lee said. “It’s hard to maintain a safe classroom environment with the school breaking down in most hallways.”

Based on the existing renovations queue, McLean may need to wait years for a renovation, possibly until as late as 2050. Instead of following the queue, FCPS should take more consideration into the current status of school buildings. While neighboring schools like Langley High School have newly renovated premises, McLean students and staff are still forced to put up with the rundown building as a result of an arbitrary renovation time interval.

“We were renovated in the early 2000s. At this point, from what we’ve heard, it’s that we kind of need to wait our turn,” Miller said.

Thanks to urban development in Tysons Corner, the school population is exploding. Improving building infrastructure is the only realistic, long-term solution.

Renovations funded by the CIP include those for Herndon, Falls Church and Oakton High Schools. Madison High School, which was renovated in the 2000s, will be receiving an additional construction project.

The renovation planning process is infuriatingly bureaucratic and it usurps nearly all voice from schools. For something that impacts student and staff life on a daily basis, that’s not acceptable.

“We’re not going to get a renovation until the queue comes through,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “While I fight to get things, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been fighting for 10 years and nothing’s happened.”

Many schools in Fairfax County are demanding a renovation, not just McLean. Providing resources to schools based on their “turn” is not socially or economically efficient; if decaying buildings are not renovated first, their repair bills will continue to grow. The current process is a complete waste of taxpayer money.

FCPS is aware of these issues, however, and says it is reconsidering how it decides what schools will be renovated.

“We are in the process of establishing a new renovation queue,” FCPS Assistant Superintendent Jeff Platenberg said. “Many of our schools are in need of renovations and FCPS is working to improve the current renovation cycle.”

While a renovation for McLean will take time, money and effort, the result will be worth it. But the failure to renovate a deteriorating building after years of requests is a sign that the entire renovation queue process is broken—not just the schools that need renovations.

“As much as I want a renovation to happen, I know it will take a while,” Lee said. “It most likely won’t happen while I’m still in school, but I hope it happens for future students.”

I’VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR 10 YEARS AND NOTHING’S HAPPENED.”

- ELLEN REILLY PRINCIPAL