This article was written 草莓传媒鈥檚 news partner and republished with permission.
Arlington County Board will take a final vote this Saturday on a plan to at Washington-Lee High School by building classrooms in its nearby office building.
Arlington Public Schools requested a permit change in order to convert the former administrative offices at the Education Center (1426 N. Quincy Street) on the W-L campus into educational space. The聽24,600-square-foot space is slated to be converted into classrooms, a science lab, gym, and a 鈥渃ommons鈥� area, with a fall 2021 completion date, according to submitted to the Board.
If approved, the updated use permit would allow APS to make others changes:
In addition to the conversion of use, the request also includes minor exterior alterations to the building, including replacing ground floor windows. Site modifications include a new pedestrian connection between the main W-L building and the Ed Center, provisions for new off-site bus and parent pick-up and drop-off, additional bicycle parking, and improvements to a pedestrian crossing at North Quincy Street to enhance pedestrian safety.
The request comes as the student population in Arlington continues to grow. School Board members already聽聽that factors in an additional 1,000 students next year.聽W-L鈥檚 expansion into the Education Center is officials have picked to house the additional enrollment growth.
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The staff report described the expansion as 鈥渁 sustainable alternative to building a new school facility to address capacity needs.鈥� The report indicated 55 teachers and staff would be needed at the Education Center if it鈥檚 converted to classrooms.
The building previously served as APS administrative headquarters but has been empty since staff to an office building in the Penrose neighborhood.
The Arlington School Board approved the expansion project two years ago and with $37 million in the budget. Washington-Lee is to be officially renamed Washington-Liberty High School this summer.
