Fairfax County Public Schools may have to move some Fort Belvoir Elementary School students who live on the base to a school off the military post to alleviate overcrowding in the years to come, said school officials earlier this month.

"We are still in the exploration stage but the facilities staff may be recommending a boundary study to provide relief at Fort Belvoir," said Dean Tistadt, Fairfax schools’ chief operations officer.

The elementary school – which all children who live on base can currently attend by right -- is expected to run over its capacity by 188 students during the upcoming school year. By 2012, the school could have 280 more students than spots, making it one of the most overcrowded schools in the system, officials said.

In addition to a boundary study, the school system has asked the principal to stop accepting students who live off the base from placing into the school. Several people who work on the post transfer their students into Fort Belvoir in order to take advantage of an after-care program offered on the base, said Tistadt.

"We have to stop accepting pupil placement into that building.… The only students who are going to be going to school in the building are the ones that live on post," he said.

With approximately 1,200 students, Fort Belvoir is already larger than any other elementary or middle school in the Fairfax County school system.

The Army built the school to fit 1,400 students but the increasing number of students in the special education program – who require more space– has driven down the building’s overall capacity over the years, said Tistadt.

Fort Belvoir’s new housing may also have attracted more families – and students – to base living. Though the number of units has stayed the same, Fort Belvoir spokesperson Don Dees said some of the renovated homes have more bedrooms, which could be drawing people with children.

"Because of the construction of new homes and refurbishment of historic homes, they are much more attractive to service members assigned to the national capital region. Our occupancy rate is somewhat higher than it has been in the past," said Dees.

Some families may not be excited about the idea of sending their children to a school off the military base. Since most live and work at the post, it is convenient to have their sons and daughters nearby.

"As a parent, I know I want my children going to the school that is closest and most convenient, but ultimately the schools have to do what is appropriate for Fairfax County schools," said Dees.

He added: "Obviously, having an elementary school on the installation is very convenient for our residents. But we also know that standard of education throughout Fairfax County is extremely high and that Fairfax County provides a quality education for all of its students."

Families are not necessarily concerned about the size of the school either.
In an e-mail, Fort Belvoir Parent Teach Organization president Jamie Marshall said: "Sure, the school is a large school but the classes are a normal size (19-25 students). My kids love their teachers and I believe they get a great education."

Instead of a boundary change, Fairfax County Public Schools could also choose to deal with the overpopulation by adding onto the elementary school’s existing building. But Tistadt said he is reluctant to make the recommendation to the school board, since Fort Belvoir is already twice the size of the school system’s "target" 600-student elementary school.

"I think it is absurd to think we should ask an elementary school to take in even more students. … I think adding capacity would be wrong," said Tistadt.

To remedy the problem over the long term, Tistadt and Mount Vernon school board member Dan Storck may ask the Army to reserve space on the post for a second elementary school.

The Army has told the school system that it does not have the money to construction a new elementary school at this time. But Tistadt and Storck said the post may have to think about funding for a new building into their long-term plans.

Though most communities are not required to supply their school building, Fort Belvoir is in an unusual situation, said Storck.
Fairfax County pays well over $10,000 – primarily through residential real estate taxes – for each student in the school system. The Army – whose employees that live on base and do pay residential real estate taxes – gives Fairfax schools only about $630 for each pupil, according to school officials.