On 11/27/02, I represented North Rosslyn Civic Association and met with Dr. Robert Smith, Superintendent, and Mr. Clarence Stukes, Assistant Superintendent Facilities & Operations, regarding plans for Wilson School and plans for the continued use of the temporary classroom trailers that have been on the property for 4 years. They indicated that Arlington Schools intended to use the temporary classroom trailers for another 3 years. Langston School is the current occupant of Wilson School waiting for their new facility to be completed for next year. Glebe Elementary School will use Wilson School in 2003-2004.

The main purpose of the meeting was to open dialogue between the Arlington County Schools and our neighborhood. We agreed that Wilson School is unique since it is a "swing" school and the entire school staff changes each year. I encouraged Dr. Smith and Mr. Stukes to find a way for Arlington County Schools to work together with the community on a continuing basis overcoming the change of administration that occurs each school year. Both sides agreed the temporary buildings are a "sore thumb" in the neighborhood. Mr. Stukes arranged to have the grounds cleaned up and debris removed from underneath the stairways. He also arranged to have the fencing repaired which has been completed.

We asked that the school be painted and to look at landscaping improvements to "tone down" the trailer house appearance of the temporary facilities.

We also asked that a plan be developed to integrate the school back into the neighborhood including removal of the temporary trailers. I conveyed the sentiment of our long term neighborhood residents that the field behind the school was an imporant recreational area for the community and that the field was used for activites such as soccer that contributed to the betterment of this neighborhood.

We also talked about the upcoming opening of high density housing, the Gallery at Rosslyn, one block from the school and that 314 housing units, around 800 new residents would be moving near the school and driving up and down 18th street border of the school. We suggested that the school work with us to approach the county to install lighted crosswalks for the pedestrian areas and to consider other traffic calming solutions for this street. We would like to see crosswalks added to form a contiguous pedestrian pathway from Wilson Blvd to 18th street to Key Blvd to 19th street. Heavily used pathways already exist on this route without any crosswalks.

A "talking points" document was given to Dr. Smith and Mr. Stukes to provide a basis for discussion for continued involvement between Wilson School and the North Rosslyn Community.

Wilson School "talking points"

- The Arlington County School System is using Wilson School as an "extended stay" hotel while permanent facilities are improved in other parts of Arlington County. Since the Wilson School tenants only stay a year, there is no pride of ownership in Wilson School, so Wilson School continues to deteriorate.

- The current occupants of the facility, Langston School, and the other schools that have and will occupy the school, do not have ties to our neighborhood. As our temporary guests they hold their relationships with their permanent home neighborhoods. However, the County School System is a continuing and permanent part of our neighborhood. How do we bridge the gap between the community and the school system in this unique situation so the school system and the neighborhood become synergistic?

- No apparent maintenance or facilities personnel present at Wilson School. Fences have been in poor repair for 2 years. Outdoor lighting is non-operational most of the time and has to be reported by citizens, paint and exterior of buildings need attention.

- Temporary trailers have been in place for 4 years and the county school has plans for at least 3 more years. The trailers are an eyesore and seem to be anything but temporary. The county school has no long term plans to retire the trailers or replace the trailers with a permanent facility.

- The neighborhood suffered a severe loss of recreational facilities when the trailers were erected. Prior to the trailers, the field was used frequently as a neighborhood soccer and exercise field. Lack of a place for the neighborhood to gather and play lowers the quality of life for North Rosslyn residents.

- Since students are generally bused to Wilson School, no attention has been paid to establishing crosswalks and signals adjacent to the school. The east side of the school is a heavily used pedestrian walkway from the residential areas to Rosslyn's western commercial area. It took citizen action to get sidewalks replaced. Crosswalks are needed especially with the upcoming occupancy of the Gallery at Rosslyn which will add 314 residences at the east end of 18th street during 2003.

- The run down condition of the original school building and the rapidly deteriorating condition of the temporary trailers and the poorly maintained grounds and landscape negatively affect the quality of the neighborhood.

[This message was edited by Paul Derby on December 11, 2002 at 04:33 PM.]

Restore the playground.

For many years the open space behind Wilson school served as a playground for all of Rosslyn. You'd see people playing there many evenings and almost every weekend. The playground is now shut and there's no alternative space anywhere nearby.

The community needs this playground restored.

Mark Antell

Mark is right. The area behind the Wilson School is not only an eye sore, but is taking away our community's right to open space. I believe we need to focus our attentions on not only cleaning up the existing conditions, but also creating a plan for the use of the entire park area including the dilapidated Wilson School building itself. We should meet with the fire department and learn more about their ultimate plans for that space. It has been rumored that the fire department plans to relocate a bit further east along Wilson Blvd. Perhaps we can plan to add their current property to our park, as is written in the Rosslyn Sector Plan. Most improtantly, we also need to have a delegate to the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee to ensure we are given our fair share of the county's conservation budget.