I am writing to provide an update on the mold remediation at Hayfield SS.

First, it is important to understand the context. FCPS has a talented Facilities team at the school and system levels, but it faces significant obstacles: a 42-year renovation cycle (compared to the industry standard of 20-25 years), a $500 million deferred maintenance backlog, and a nearly $400 million infrastructure replacement backlog.

I believe that every child should have access to safe, modern, and updated classrooms and facilities, so one of my top priorities has been to devise solutions to the facilities conundrum wherein the needs far exceed available resources. For 18 months, I served as Chair of the School Board’s Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee (CPDC), which oversees facilities planning. I also served as the School Board liaison to the Facilities Planning Advisory Committee, which consists of industry experts who advise FCPS on facilities planning.

Through these positions, I successfully advocated for additional funding for a system-wide Facilities Condition Assessment, which will provide FCPS with comprehensive data on the condition of every school building for the first time. I also worked with my colleague Melanie Meren to explore different means by which FCPS can reduce construction costs and timeframes, to include new construction management methodologies, public-private partnerships, and swing spaces. In addition, I championed the purchase of former King Abdullah Academy to the new Western HS for $150 million, which represents a cost savings of $280 million compared to the expected cost of $430 million to purchase land and build a new high school from scratch. This funding can be applied to accelerate other renovation projects across the county, to include projects in the Mount Vernon District.

The School Board recently established a Joint Facilities Committee with the Board of Supervisors to explore how the County and FCPS can work together to improve and modernize our school facilities. My colleagues Melanie Meren and Kyle McDaniel will be leading those conversations.

Second, the environmental issues at Hayfield SS are completely unacceptable. I met with the Superintendent, the Chief of Facilities Services, and Principal Darin Thompson on Thursday morning to tour Hayfield SS and learn more about the mold remediation efforts. I am troubled by what I learned during my visit, but I was reassured by the personal commitment made by Dr. Reid to resolve this crisis expeditiously. She has designated Hayfield as her top priority, and she is mobilizing her leadership team and the full resources of Fairfax County Public Schools to accelerate and expand the remediation and ensure work continues around the clock. I am sharing below the communication sent to the Hayfield community yesterday by Chief of Facilities Services Erik Gordon, which describes the extraordinary investments and measures being made by FCPS to resolve this crisis. Dr. Reid is committed to providing the community with a permanent solution, so this issue never happens again.

I see light at the end of the tunnel, so I ask for your patience as FCPS redoubles its efforts under Dr. Reid's leadership. I also ask that you continue to report to school administrators and my office any new or continuing issues, so we can ensure they are promptly addressed and resolved. You can email me directly at mdunne@fcps.edu.

Going forward, I will advocate to conduct a comprehensive examination of HVAC systems throughout the Mount Vernon District, so we can undertake necessary repairs to address any existing issues and prevent any future issues.

Very Respectfully,

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