The Freedom/Battlefield high school prototype has been put forth by the Prince William School Board as the base design for the 13th high school. Image Courtesy of Prince William County SchoolsPrince William County Schools will hold two public information meeting in September to discuss potential locations and designs for the 13th high school planned for the western end of the county.
The new high school would help to alleviate overcrowding at existing western end high schools in Prince William County.
The first meeting will be held September 14 at 7 p.m. in Battlefield High School's auditorium. The second meeting will be held September 23 at 7 p.m. in Patriot High School's Auditorium.
At either meetings, residents can expect to receive information from the school district regarding the new high school. PWCS is also encouraging citizens to share their opinions on the matter with the school division and their elected representatives on the School Board.
“Following brief presentations on location and design options, residents will have up to three minutes each to share their views,” a PWCS spokesperson wrote in an email notification.
Although the school is not slated to open until 2020, PWCS warns that the process will have to move quickly. The school division is already behind in choosing a location.
“Construction must start soon,” the PWCS spokesperson wrote. “This is the time to share your views on a school that will take today’s western Prince William County elementary and middle school students to graduation and beyond.”
Rollins Ford Park is one possible location for the new high school. It was announced by Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson in a press conference held Aug. 4. Rollins Ford Park would then be moved to another location along Vint Hill Road that was intended for another PWCS school.
Other possibly location options for the high school include a location at Stone Haven under a revised proposal and one at the proposed Strathmore (formerly Pioneer Assemblage) development near Vint Hill Road.
Last time the Prince William County School Board discussed the design for the new high school, they determined that it should be more similar to that of Battlefield and Freedom high schools than to that of Patriot and the 12th high school. Cost was a factor.
In an informal survey Bristow Beat conducted in April of 2014, the majority of readers responded that they would prefer Patriot prototype school design to the Battlefield/Freedom one.
As land on the Rollins Ford Park site is 69 acres as opposed to 80 acres usually allotted for a new high school, the design of the school and/or campus may be affected. However, according to Brentsville School Board member Gil Trenum, if there is enough useable land at Rollins Ford Park, it might not make a difference.
Those interested in weighing in on the location of the new high school, may also wish to attend the Brentsville Town Hall meeting, concerning land use proposals and applications. The 13th high school is one item on the agenda for discussion.
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