The Wheatlands three-school site contract was originally negotiated in late February at a cost of $11.3 million for the combined 170 acres offered by two property owners: the 160-acre Cangiano tract for $9.9 million, and the 10-acre Burgess tract for $1.4 million. Sam Cangiano later agreed to lower his asking price to $7.6 million, effectively reducing the per acre cost from $62,031 to $47,500, and resulting in a reduction in the contract price of $2.3 million.
School Board members hoped to “bank” the land for three future western schools–an elementary, middle and high school–for an estimated 4,000 students on the property on Route 287 north of Route 9 in Lovettsville.
The supervisors swiftly and soundly registered their rejection. Yet, when a majority of the School Board members ordered the final blow–and the official end–official to the Wheatland site, several did so reluctantly, including Leesburg School Board member Tom Marshall, who read into the record a lengthy statement.
Speaking of the LCPS briefings provided to the Loudoun supervisors before the Wheatlands proposal became a contract, Marshall continued, “Supervisors asked questions about the cost, the appraisal, the ground water, the size of the schools to be built, road improvements and transportation and received thoughtful and often documented responses to their questions…from considerable hard work and detail going into the presentation from the School Board and school staff, much was substantiated buy their own staff.”
Marshall found no support from his colleagues for a proposal to “purchase the Cangiano and Burgess sites on the western side of 287 for an elementary and a middle school,” suggesting that the proposed high school be considered for one of two pending land assemblages near the Town of Lovettsville.
School board vice chairman Warren Geurin (Sterling) summarized what had occurred between supervisors and LCPS and the briefing process. “Prior to school board action on any contract, staff briefs the Board of Supervisors privately on the contract,” he said. “We followed the process outlined by the Board of Supervisors. We had the tacit approval of Board of Supervisors to move forward on contract. Yet here we are now, terminating these two contracts.”
School Board member Priscilla Godfrey (Blue Ridge) spoke of the cost savings associated with three schools on one site, and the county’s comprehensive plan, which advocates “co-location.” “Beyond land acquisitions and co-location, we have some serious, serious work to do with Board of Supervisors in interpreting the Comprehensive Plan,” said Godfrey. “If they follow the plan to the letter of the law, there will be no schools.”
School board member Tom Reed (At- Large) spoke of the financial costs to taxpayers from the contract termination, and criticized supervisors for the “Inability of majority of Board of Supervisors to stick by their words.”
Reed noted “…over $2 million has been spent on Lenah (school site rejected by supervisors and planning commission earlier this year), and Wheatlands.” “Next time their word should matter, “ Reed concluded, before saying he would “Reluctantly support this motion (to terminate the Wheatlands contract.”
Just what did the Wheatlands (Cangiano/Burgess) cost the County and taxpayers in terms of actual expenses and cost of various studies? Dr. Sam Adamo, Director of LCPS Planning and Legislative Services provided that answer and others to questions submitted by School Board Vice Chairman Geurin.
The estimate (or actual expense) of funds spent on various studies relating to the two properties totaled $416,477.05, including: $84,733.15 for engineering; $22,143.39 for Transportation; and $12,237.50 for drainfields. The largest single expense was for Hydrogeology, at $297,363.01. That cost “…includes an estimate to close out site work, although that figure could increase or decrease slightly,” according to School Board meeting documents.
Hydrogeology studies were of much concern to opponents of the Wheatlands site, including the Wheatlands Alliance, who feared the negative effect of the three schools on the water in the area, and particularly their farming operations.
Another of Guerin’s questions regarding the number of “specific land possibilities” LCPS has “looked at so far in the area north of Route 9 since 2005.” Dr. Adamo provided a list of thirty-two sites and an accompanying map. (List and map available online at www.loudouni.com.)
School Board Chairman Robert DuPree (Dulles) thanked LCPS staff, and the “professional staff of the county who did support us.” DuPree also thanked Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (I-At Large) and Vice Chairman Susan Buckley (D-Sugarland Run) for their candor, when supervisors voted last week to against funding the Wheatlands school sites, as each “acknowledged they were part of majority who changed their minds,” DuPree said.
School board member Jennifer Bergel (Catoctin) who led the effort for the Wheatlands school site in her district, offered the motion to terminate the contract. “We are terminating a contract today and we are not entering into any new contracts,” Bergel said, in reference to the two new site options–Schoene/Engle and McDonough, land assemblages near the Town of Lovettsville presented to the School Board last week. Bergel said those assemblages were presented for information only.
Bergel had the last word before the school board voted unanimously to terminate the Wheatlands contract. “My extreme disappointment that we will not have sites for ES-25, MS-10 and HS-10 when we leave this room today,” she concluded.
Correction: The Wheatlands site is located the Blue Ridge District - not Bergel's Catoctin District, which begins ~1 mile to the north at Morrisonville Road.
Mr. Marshall: With respect to cost of road improvements and other infrastructure needed for the Wheatland eduplex, there were absolutely no" thoughtful and often documented responses to their questions." It was interesting to many observers that LCPS staff were able to cobble together cost estimates for the recently identified McDonough assemblage, however, similar costs for infrastructure and road improvements for the Wheatland project were obviously missiing from Staff's evaluation, despite their consideration of the property for several years.
Ms. Godfrey: You IGNORED the Grubb decision and WASTED another half million dollars of taxes we don't have. You and your collegues chose to put your heads in the sand with this attempted Wheatland acqusition when you totally ignored the 2007 Planning Commission's decision to send to Committee further discussion of, "interpreting the Comprehensive Plan,” and the need to "follow the plan to the letter of the law [for schools]." It will never be possible to follow the plan if you don't lift a finger to try!
Mr. Reed: BOS changed their mind when they received additional information LCPS withheld: For example, historical value of the Nixon house. How can anyone believe LCPS when they withold critical information like that?
Bergel: Look back at your campaign promises for a Lovettsville HS-10, who are you anyway?