January 14 – 20, 2021
FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE
FOU N D E D 1991 • V OL. X XX NO. 48
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Proposed School Budget Seeks Raises, Student Aid 2022 Budget Adheres to F.C. City Council Guidance
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan presented a $53.6 million Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget to the Falls Church School Board on Jan. 12. Noonan told the School Board at its meeting Tuesday that his proposed budget is balanced, falls within Falls Church City Council budget guidance, provides a wage increase for school employees and additional supports for students. “With the recent announcement of vaccine distributions beginning, we can all hope we are at the beginning of the end of what has indeed been a challenging year for everyone,” Dr. Noonan said. “This budget reflects the next steps toward shoring up any Covid-related slide — a salary increase for our exceptional staff,
and additional instructional and emotional support for our students and families.” Noonan’s proposed budget includes a Step increase for eligible employees and a half percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all staff members. When Noonan first announced during a budget guidance joint meeting with the City Council last month that he wanted Step and COLA increases, it loomed as an almost certain potential conflict with the Council budget guidance. That guidance was based on holding expenditures overall within the limits of the projected revenue increases for the City such that there will be no residential real estate tax rate increase. But it turns out that working with the numbers in the meantime and taking the Council’s projected
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A SIDE-BY-SIDE of the new high school (in color) and the old George Mason High School. The new high school plans to open in the coming weeks. (P����: C������� D������ D����� ��� I������ S�������)
F.C. Council Approves Changes to West End Project With 6-1 Vote BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
“If history recalls anything about tonight, it’s that the City Council, confronted with the real threat of the pandemic indefinitely suspending the West Falls mixed-use proj-
ect, summoned the optimism and resolve to cast a nearly unanimous vote to keep moving forward with our partners.” Falls Church City Councilman Phil Duncan offered this observation following the 6-1 vote Monday to accept modifications to the mas-
sive 9.7 acre mixed use project that was first approved last year to drive the promised economic growth that would help pay for the newly completed high school. Due to the wider economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the group of developers who formed
the West Falls Gateway Partners have been in behind the scenes talks with City Council representatives and its primary consultant, Ted Richer, before the two sides went public with their agreed-upon changes last month and voted on this Monday.
Thus, with the 6-1 passage this week, the project pushes ahead, giving the developers breathing room to amass the financial resources to carry on. While the deal involves the City giving ground on payments in the immediate future, in the longer term, the City actually comes out ahead by a considerable amount.
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Several Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Volunteer Fire Departments are partnering with Inova Blood Donor Services to hold blood drives in their fire station parking lots. On Tuesday, Jan. 19 from 1 – 7 p.m., there will be a blood drive at the McLean Volunteer Fire Department.
Island Fin Poké will serve up traditional “Hawaiian poke” (pronounced “poh-KAY” to rhyme with “okay” ) or “farm-to-fork” fare in one dish meals of fish, rice, homemade sauces and up to 25 toppings of fruit and mixed raw and crunchy veggies.
SEE COMMUNITY NEWS & NOTES, PAGE 10
SEE STORY, PAGE 19
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There will be a Yard Sale at George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church) on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. – noon. at Entrance one, on the Leesburg PIke side of the school. It will be completely outdoors. SEE COMMUNITY NEWS & NOTES, PAGE 10
INDEX
Editorial............................................... 6 Letters................................................. 6 News & Notes............................10–11 Comment ................................ 7,12,13 Crime Report .................................... 12 Calendar ........................................... 14 Business News ................................. 15 Classified Ads ................................... 16 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ......... 17 Critter Corner.................................... 18
