Good afternoon,



Arlington Public Schools (APS) is posting an RFP (Request for Proposal) on July 22nd to solicit proposals from architectural/engineering firms to perform additional professional studies at the Wilson School site in Rosslyn, the Stratford site that houses the HB Woodlawn Program and the Reed site in Westover. Both the Wilson and Stratford properties are being considered for a new 1,300-seat middle school. The Reed property is being considered for the relocation of HB Woodlawn Secondary Program from the Stratford property if that is determined to be the better location for the new middle school. These additional studies need to be initiated now in order to be completed by November so that the results, along with community input generated through a comprehensive community engagement process this fall, serve to inform the School Board’s final decision on solutions to secondary (specifically, middle school) capacity issues in North Arlington.



As you know, the School Board approved the FY2015 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in June which provides funding for:

· 1,300 much-needed secondary (middle school) seats for our students by September 2019

· Planning and design services for the 1,300 secondary (middle school) seats at $4,000,000.

· Construction of the 1,300 secondary seats at a maximum total project cost of $126 million.



While the board worked to finalize the CIP, several possible options were discussed. APS needs to have these additional studies performed to better evaluate these options. The studies will be ongoing during this fall and will be informed by community discussions. The “More Seats for More Students” community engagement process, begun last spring, will continue in the fall with structured opportunities for input through meetings and social media. These studies, along with the outcomes of APS community engagement work, will result in staff recommendations to the board for a School Board decision by December 31, 2014, which will determine the location or locations in North Arlington for these much needed seats. Construction projects must start by 2017 in order for these 1,300 seats to be available for students in September 2019.



For more information on the RFP please visit our website at www.apsva.us forward slash MoreSeats or call the Facilities & Operations Department at 703-228-6609.



Lastly, APS is in the process of developing a fall schedule for community engagement to ensure broad involvement. The schedule will be shared as soon as it is finalized. APS will also solicit ideas from the community at this year’s Arlington County Fair, August 8th, 9th and 10th, on the most effective ways to communicate the CIP process and engage the broad community. We invite you to stop by the APS booth and complete a short, online survey to help inform our work!



Thanks,



Lionel A. White

Director of Facilities Planning

Arlington Public Schools

2770 S. Taylor Street

Arlington, VA 22206

Phone: (703) 228-7741

Cell: (703) 217-3875