Nohe Announces Ferlazzo School Will Remain Community School

Coles Supervisor Marty Nohe advocated for the Ferlazzo School to remain a community elementary school.

Coles Supervisor Marty Nohe (R) posted on the Our Schools Facebook page at approximately 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, alerting the public that Prince William County Schools has decided to keep the Ferlazzo School site as a community elementary school, rather than it becoming the site for the new Porter Traditional School building.

I am writing today with what I suspect will come as good news to you and the many other families who have been advocating for your neighborhood school. Just this minute I received a copy of a letter from the School Superintendent letting the Board of County Supervisors know that, after hearing from the many parents and neighbors who advocated so effectively on behalf of our community, he has decided to change his recommendation to the School Board and NOT build the Porter Traditional School at the site at the corner of Spriggs and Minnieville Roads, commonly referred to as the "Ferlazzo Site." Rather, the School Board will be pursuing a community-based neighborhood school at his site as was originally planned, and as our community has been demanding.

I have been working closely with other members of the Board of County Supervisors, as well as members of the School Board and the Superintendent's staff to bring this issue to a final conclusion prior to adoption of the County Budget later this evening. I am very grateful to the many parents and neighbors who have fought so hard to make this happen.

I could not possibly have made the case for ensuring that the Ferlazzo Property serve the children for whom it was given without everyone's passion and support. This is truly an example of citizen activists working with elected officials to ensure that the best community outcome prevails. It is outcomes like this that make me proud to serve the Coles District, and I am very grateful for everyone's efforts.

When the Board of County Supervisors adopts our County/Schools budget this evening, it is my expectation that the Board will incoporate language into the resolution approving the Capital Improvement Plan which codifies this decision by the School Board.

I cannot thank the community enough for your incredible efforts on behalf of our kids and our neighborhood! This is truly great news!

The school division planned to swap the Sprigg's community's "Ferlazzo Elementary School" with a new larger building for the Porter School in the Woodbridge District. Their logic was that the Woodbridge District was in need of new school sites. By this plan, it would gain the old Porter School building and the school division would gain new spots for students at the tradition, 1-8 school, when housed in a new, larger building.

Nohe, who advocated and bargained for the proffered elementary school site, was opposed to the school division's plan as well as the way it was communicated to the public. Some School Board members even felt the school division's decision was not properly discussed or decided upon by their board before the public was notified of the change.

The issue became more complicated since the Principal of Porter Traditional School sent a letter home to parents, alerting them that Porter would be getting a new building at the Ferlazzo Site.

Upon hearing their school was in danger of not receiving the site, Porter parents mobilized, presenting their case to the School Board at citizen's time. One Porter teacher even gave the students an assignment to write to the Board of County Supervisors and explain the reasons Porter deserved the new school.

However, the Sprigg's community was equally as passionate, and with Nohe's support, the school division ultimately yielded the school back to the originally intended community.

Nohe asked for a resolution before the supervisors had to vote on the FY16 budget. Otherwise, he said he could not vote to fund the School's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP.) As supervisors expect to approve the FY16 budget tonight, it appears Nohe and the Cole's community has gotten their wish.