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VOL. 8, NO. 2
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DECEMBER 1, 2022
Parents Push Renovations, Replacements in $1.3B Plan BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agusitn@loudounnow.com
Nearly 30 people spoke up during Monday night’s public hearing on the School Board’s Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Capital Improvement program and Capital Asset Preservation Program. Speakers supported plans to rebuild Park View High School and renovate Waterford Elementary School. Speakers also supported upgrades to Banneker Elementary School, although some called for renovations and others advocated building a replacement school. No one spoke against the nearly $1.3 billion dollar six-year construction budget. Lisa McLaughlin, a parent of three Waterford Elementary students, asked the board to support the renovation plans because the school is already over capacity and kids are being put in modular units or “cottages” to make space for them. She raised safety concerns about students walking back and forth between the school and the trailers. She also said the trailers CIP continues on page 42
Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now
Catoctin Elementary School Dean Jeremy Tipton, Principal Janet Platenberg and Assistant Principal Jacquelynne Spencer race down the new slides at Catoctin Elementary School.
At Catoctin, a Refresh is Celebrated BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
With the start of the 2022-23 school year, Catoctin Elementary School in Leesburg—a 56-year-old school—opened with some significant upgrades it hadn’t had in 23 years. It’s a model parents at
other aging Loudoun County school buildings are hoping to emulate. Renovating the school took the cooperative work of the school staff, the school district, the PTA, students, and even some money from the Town of Leesburg. The school, which was built in 1966, is known as a pod school because of its
circular design and 10 classroom pods. It was built for $1 million and was designed to accommodate 600 first through seventh grade students, according to the school’s website. There are two with that design in CATOCTIN REFRESH continues on page 41
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