Civic leaders in Arlington said they support a $33 million school bond package — including more than $24 million for the renovation of Yorktown High School — despite concerns from the Arlington County Civic Federation schools committee.
The federation, a nonpartisan group composed of leaders from 83 civic groups in the county, eventually voted to back the school bond package, going against the recommendation of the schools committee. Committee Chair Beth Wolffe told The Examiner that her panel decided not to support the package because plans for the school were not finalized.
“This was the first year in my memory that the civic federation’s schools committee voted to recommend against passage of a bond,” Wolffe said. “The issues … were the biggest piece of the school bond for which there are drawings but no real plans.”
This is the second time the schools have asked the public to approve money for Yorktown. In 2004, voters approved a $2.2 million bond to pay design costs.
Sarah Woodhead, director of design and construction for Arlington Public Schools, said the design process is still in the early phases.
“We’re not anticipating starting construction until the middle of 2008, with at least four years of construction,” she said.
Woodhead said the Yorktown building, opened in the 1950s, used to be an elementary school and lacks high school-level facilities. The upgrade is needed to better accommodate the school’s 1,600 students.
Yorktown Civic Association President David Haring said the upgrades to the high school are needed.
“The community is supportive of the program,” he said. “The building is clearly an old building that’s extended past its expected life.”
He said he was concerned that construction could affect learning, as his child will attend Yorktown during the renovations.
“It’s going to be tough to pull this off without disruption,” he said, adding he believed “the students will continue to learn under the appropriate circumstances.”
