July 23 – 29, 2020
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. 23
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Superintendent Now Wants Schools To Start Virtually F.C. School Board Votes On New Plan Tonight BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
Out of an abundance of caution in the midst of the current Covid19 pandemic, F.C. Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan changed his mind this week and now wants everyone to stay home this fall when classes are due to resume Aug. 24. In an exclusive interview with the News-Press Wednesday, Noonan said he’d notified a virtual all-schools staff meeting earlier that morning that recent developments have caused him to recommend the previous plans for hybrid teaching this fall be changed in favor of all-at-home virtual instruction. The recommendation, which the School Board will act on at a special meeting Thursday, first came prior to a marathon meeting of the Fairfax County School Board Tuesday when a similar decision was made and following a move by the Arlington County Schools to do likewise announced earlier. Yesterday, Loudoun County schools also voted to go 100 percent virtual. A statement was sent out to all students, parents and staff in the Falls Church system Wednesday. Noonan told the News-Press that he expects the School Board, in its meeting tonight, will concur
based on the data underlying the decision. “I’ve said all along that we need to remain flexible in our planning based on new information and data,” Noonan said. “This data includes numbers of teachers who are announcing intentions to apply for leave, absences or resignations.” It also includes, he said, the new report from South Korea that school-aged children transmit the virus as readily as adults, and awareness that many F.C. teachers and other employees do not live in Falls Church but commute in from areas where the transmission rate is much higher than here. Without providing a number, Noonan confirmed that there is a significant number of system employees who’ve tested positive for the virus and that they, plus numerous others who’ve been in contact with them and therefore must be quarantined as a precaution, represent a major concern. The number, he said, “is not insignificant.” “Our number one concern is to make sure that our kids and staff are safe,” Noonan stressed, and that maintaining a consistent workforce, from teacher, to custodial, food service, busing and other components, is a vital part
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COMING ALONG nicely is the new high school, which is still on track to be completed in December. What’s still unknown is whether any students will be attending the school when it finally opens up at the end of the year. (P����: FCCPS P����/S��� P������)
F.C. Council Reviews Downtown Project’s Changes BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
That major proposed development for the northeast corner of Falls Church’s central intersection of Routes 29 and 7 (Washington and Broad Streets) is back, and looks different — but not necessarily worse — than what was promised when it was first submitted five years ago and subsequently won a 7-0 approval
from the F.C. City Council. Its centerpiece is still a 75,000-square foot Whole Foods grocery store. The new presentation was provided to the City Council at its virtual work session this Monday night led by Scott Adams of McGuire Woods and Maury Stern of the Insight Group that owns the land. The major issues that will drive the discussion going forward on whether or not the project gets another OK,
as it now needs, involve negotiations around the City-owned surface parking lot behind what is now Clare and Don’s and the Thompson Italian restaurant in the 100 block of N. Washington and the net fiscal impact to the City of the plan. Other important issues are the retention of the discounted 5,000 square foot new home for the City’s
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I����� T��� W��� M����� H����� R�������� ��� V���� F����� F.C. C��� C���� �� S������� P��� �� F.C.’� F��� P���� S�� C������� � A�� L����� The need to socially distance during the coroanvirus pandemic has left many teens and pre-teens socially starved. While Falls Church City Public Schools is doing its part to offer virtual socialization, one area therapist thinks these challenges will be a positive later on. SEE STORY, PAGE 4
Covid-19’s spread throughout the country influenced the City to scale back or outright cancel certain camps during its typically popping summer season, making “fun” one of the lesser known, but more persistent casualties of the pandemic. SEE STORY, PAGE 27
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Long-serving Falls Church City Council member Dan Sze is fighting esophageal cancer, F.C. Mayor David Tarter reported at the outset of Monday night’s Falls Church City Council work session. Sze was absent from the meeting. SEE NEWS BRIEFS, PAGE 9
INDEX
Editorial............................................... 6 Letters.......................................... 6, 19 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
