The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Thursday recommended for approval the 40,000-square-foot addition that will ease overcrowding at South Lakes High School.
The addition now moves on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final approval at the Supervisors’ Oct. 20 meeting.
However, several residents of housing clusters directly across the street and downhill from the high school have concerns about how additional construction and square footage at the school will affect stormwater management. Residents say runoff his causing erosion, affecting the hillside behind their homes as well as Lake Audubon.
Reston 2020’s Terry Maynard wrote a recent letter to Hunter Mill School Board rep Pat Hynes outlining his concerns about stormwater standards at the addition site.
According to the Fairfax County Planning staff report on the addition, FCPS has received approval of a general permit through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which allows for the applicant’s proposal to be
grandfathered under the old stormwater management requirements prior to the Board’s adoption of the new stormwater ordinance in 2014.
Maynard lives on Wakerobin, located across the street and downhill from the school. Stormwater erosion from SLHS and Langston Hughes Middle School collects in basin to the east of the high school, then flows downhill towards Lake Audubon, Maynard said in his letter to Hynes.
Residents of Wakerobin and Cedar Cove met this week with representatives from Fairfax County and Reston Association to talk about the issue and plans to remedy it.
Said Maynard:
“Most of the stormwater from both SLHS and Langston Hughes Intermediate School collects in a basin to the east of the high school and then flows through a stormwater tunnel under South Lakes Drive. The resulting stream then plunges about 30′ in its 1,000′ flow to Lake Audubon.”
“During storms, the creek experiences massive erosion and the generation of huge quantities of silt that is spewed into Lake Audubon as the force of the flow cuts the stream wider and deeper. The decades-long problem has exposed both the County sewer in several places as well as several residents’ lateral connections.”
He said he is disappointed in the county’s plans to meet outdated stormwater regulations.
“So, in a Reston community that focuses on sustainability and environmental excellence, FCPS is proposing to meet old, much less stringent stormwater management requirements than is the current standard, presumably so it can save a few dollars,” wrote Maynard. “The proposed addition of some open joint parking surfaces (one of which is on the wrong side of the high school) and filterra structures is grossly inadequate to meet the additional flow caused by the addition, much less the current unacceptable stormwater management conditions.”
Maynard said each new addition to LHMS and SLHS over the years has made stormwater management worse for the neighborhoods. He said this summer’s sewer pipe leak in the area was a result of continued stress on the pipes on the erosion area.
Dave Thomas, representing Cedar Cove Cluster, has also expressed his concerns to RA and the county.
Graphic: Proposed addition for SLHS/Fairfax County
South Lakes High School’s football team, which soundly defeated crosstown rival Herndon on Friday, is off to its best start since 2010.
The Seahawks are 5-1 under second-year coach Trey Taylor after beating the Hornets 50-13 at home.
That’s a big difference from 2014, when South Lakes lost its first five games (including 49-0 to Herndon) en route to a 2-8 season.
“I think we have a great group of guys,” SLHS coach Trey Taylor says of the 2015 team.
Taylor says last year’s team had a lot of senior starters — some of whom were first-time starters. The 2o15 team is young, but the coaching staff as had a year to work with them and know the players’ strengths and weaknesses, said Taylor.
Much of the Seahawks’ success is due to sophomore quarterback Devin Miles. Miles, who was the freshman QB team a year ago, has thrown for 481 yards and six touchdowns. He has also run in three touchdowns.
“He has really exceeded our expectations,” Taylor said of Miles, a product of Herndon’s youth football program. “Any time you have a guy moving from freshman to varsity, you worry about how he is going to handle games. He has done very well.”
One of Miles’ main targets is senior Eric Kirlew, who has 240 receiving yards, 304 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Kirlew is one of the returning offensive starters from 2014.
Other big offensive contributors are sophomore running backs Albert Mensah and Spencer Alston. Alston has carried the ball 325 yards for four TDs. Mensah has 265 yards and also scored four touchdowns.
Taylor says he also has to credit the defense. At this point in the 2014 season, the team had given up 240 points. In 2015: just 70.
“We’ve got some really good players on our defensive line,” said Taylor. “Last year, we had a habit of giving up a lot of plays. While Herndon scored last week on a big play, if we have to keep our opponent going downfield 3-t0-5 yards at a time, we are going to keep them from scoring.”
The Seahawks began the season with a 52-8 victory at Marshall. The lone loss came the next week, 24-20 against Briar Woods.
Since then it has been a 25-14 victory at Yorktown, shutting out McLean 42-0, thumping Washington-Lee, 28-2 and the wide margin against Herndon.
Taylor took over after Marvin Wootten resigned prior to the 2014 season. Taylor came to South Lakes after stints as the head coach at Woodson and Robinson, and as South County’s defensive coordinator. He took Woodson to the state semis a decade ago and the regional finals in 2009.
The Seahawks (3-0 in Conference 6) play at Madison on Friday. They close out the schedule with games against Langley, Hayfield and Fairfax.
Even though South Lakes will likely earn a playoff spot, Taylor says nothing is certain at this point in the season.
“One thing I noticed when I got here was we lost some games before we ever stepped on the field,” he said. “Now, we don’t worry about who we are playing. Anyone can win any game in any week.”
Photo: Crowd at South Lakes vs. Herndon game Friday/Credit: Christy Winters Scott
A South Lakes High School graduate was shot and killed in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
Police said Justin Granda, 28, was shot multiple times in the Arlington neighborhood of Pittsburgh about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Pittsburgh media reports.
Granda, who authorities said was shot several times in the head and torso, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Violent Crime Unit is investigating Sunday’s shooting.
Granda lived in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Oliver neighborhood. He was a 2005 SLHS graduate. According to his social media profiles, he played basketball for the Seahawks and was most recently working as a car salesman.
Photo: Justin Granda via Twitter
South Lakes High School is among 11 Fairfax County High Schools that made gains in all three SAT areas this year.
FCPS released SAT results for the class of 2015 last week. South Lakes had average scores of 561 (reading), 565 (math) and 543 (writing). That is up from 550, 554 and 530 for the class of 2014.
Herndon High’s averages were 543 (reading), 553 (math) and 532 (writing). Those numbers were down in all three subject areas as the class of 2014 averages were 557 (R), 565 (M), and 542 (W).
Overall, students in the FCPS’ class of 2015 continued to post SAT scores above state and national averages, according to results released by the Virginia Department of Education.
FCPS scores are 41 points above the state’s average in Critical Reading, 58 points above the state’s average in Mathematics, and 47 points above the state’s average in Writing.
SAT results compiled by the College Board show that FCPS students posted average scores of 556 in Critical Reading, 571 in Mathematics, and 542 in Writing. That equals an overall composite score of 1669, up one point from last year’s overall composite score of 1668, FCPS said in a release.
National SAT averages are 492 (R), 503 (M) and 480 (W).
FCPS average scores increased 1 point in Mathematics and remained the same in Critical Reading and Writing when compared to 2014 results. See how the schools compare in this FCPS chart.
Among the other schools showing gains in all three areas: Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, Edison, Fairfax, McLean, Stuart, West Springfield, and Woodson High Schools and Robinson Secondary School.
Of the 25 high schools in FCPS, 13 saw an increase in their Critical Reading average, 15 saw an increase in their Mathematics average, and 13 saw an increase in their Writing average over last year, FCPS says.
FCPS has broken down results in various categories. See more on the FCPS website.
The SAT test will undergo major changes in 2016, says The College Board. The test wil revert back from a total possible score of 2400 to a total of 1600. The format of some questions will change, and the essay portion, added in 2005, will become optional.
Fairfax County Public Schools has proposed a new addition for South Lakes High School that will add 40,000 square feet to the school, but the school is in danger of outgrowing the added space as soon as it is built.
The proposed addition will bring SLHS’ capacity to 2,500 students. That capacity appears to be needed though as current enrollment is 2,446 in a school designed for about 2,100 students.
The addition comes less than 10 years after SLHS underwent a major renovation that increased capacity by about 1,000 students.
After a sometimes-contentious redistricting process in 2006, the school, which then had about 1,400 students, soon after had more than 2,000 students. Temporary classrooms have been added to the property in the last several years to handle overcrowding as school population, reflecting an overall trend in FCPS, has continued to grow annually.
If the trend holds, SLHS may be close to 2,900 in the next several years, FCPS officials said in the most recent FCPS Capital Improvement Plan.
The South Lakes addition, which will be paid for from a 2013 school bond, is on the Fairfax County Planning Commission agenda for Oct. 15. Residents may speak at the public hearing portion of the meeting, which begins at 8:15 p.m.
Here is what is planned for SLHS, according to a county planning staff report:
A two-story, 40,000-square foot addition at the southwest corner of the building along South Lakes Drive.
The construction of the addition would expand the school to 373,750 square feet.
The addition will have classroom space to enhance the capacity of the existing school from 2,126 students to 2,500 students.
Also planned: 128 new parking spaces, which would be located along Seahawk Drive in the proximity of the school’s entrance and within the existing eastern and western parking lots, for a total of 758 parking spaces.
FCPS will provide additional stormwater management through the installation of open joint pavement blocks and five filterras (filter systems).
The staff report, which recommends approval of the plan, says “the proposed expansion has received prior approval by a public bond referendum, is included in the county’s currently adopted Capital Improvement Program, and does not significantly impact on the character of the existing facility and its compatibility with the surrounding” area.
The modular classrooms currently located on the future site of the addition will go away. But a series of other modular units, which house special education classroom, on the flagpole side of the school will remain.
Among the development conditions: FCPS will upgrade the existing sidewalks that are less than five feet wide along South Lakes Drive and Ridge Heights Road to five feet in width (or
provide ADA passing areas).
South Lakes may still install more modular classrooms on the property if needed to accommodate future enrollment.
Rendering courtesy of Fairfax County.
A Reston family that is greatly concerned about the use of crumb rubber in artificial turf fields and the effects on children’s health was featured on NBC Nightly News on Thursday.
Reston’s Jon and Laura Damm, both environmental lawyers, have been lobbying Fairfax County officials for more than a year to take a second look at the use of crumb rubber, which is essentially ground-up tires, in the use of artificial turf fields.
See the NBC Nightly News story.
South Lakes and Herndon High Schools, as well as most FCPS high schools, have artificial turf fields.
Anecdotal evidence collected by University of Washington Soccer Coach Amy Griffin shows more than 60 young players, most of them goalies, have gotten cancer in the last few years.
However, the U.S. Environmental Agency has not taken a stand on the issue, and no major study has linked crumb rubber to cancer.
The Damms are not taking any chances, however. They started a local petition last year urging Fairfax officials to replace fields.
“Right now, what we are seeing is our kids are the guinea pigs, said Jon Damm. “We are not willing to let our kids be the guinea pigs.”
Fairfax County, which has more than 80 turf fields with crumb rubber infill, most of which have been installed in the last few years, say they have contacted officials in the Seattle area, where the NBC investigation started more than a year ago.
But there is not yet official data, so Fairfax County has no plans to replace fields, county spokesman Tony Castrilli told The Washington Post. However, the county says it will continue to review local cancer rates and other studies.
Meanwhile, Montgomery County, Md., has recently begun using more natural products in its fields. That decision was spurred by parental feedback, a county spokesman told NBC.
In the District, an Artificial Turf Task Force is also examining the issue. The D.C. Government says no crumb rubber will likely be used in future projects.
The Safe Fields Alliance, which represents turf manufacturers, said the BCA report was “misleading and without context.”
“The NBC report cited several chemicals found in crumb rubber as points of concern,” the group said in a statement. “However, this information is misleading without context and without baselines, especially given that we all eat, drink, and breathe trace levels of chemicals in our daily lives. [The] Industry voluntarily ensures the levels of any chemicals in synthetic turf fields are lower than the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s lead and chemical standards for children’s toys and the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe standards for urban and rural soils.”
Vocaldente, a German a cappella group, will be performing a free concert Wednesday night at South Lakes High School in Reston.
The concert, presented by the South Lakes High School Parents for Choral Arts, is at 7 p.m. at SLHS’ Little Theatre.
Volcadente will also be conducting workshops with chorus students from Hughes MS, Carson MS and South Lakes HS, as well as IB German students.
What would you do if you were in charge of closing a projected $80 million deficit for Fairfax County Public Schools?
FCPS is inviting citizens to log into a its new budget proposal tool, which went live on Wednesday. Citizens can slash and protect programs and positions in a scenario that looks at a $50 million deficit for FCPS or a $75 million deficit. FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza says all suggestions will go to the Budget Task Force.
The budget software was used by Arlington Public Schools and given to FCPS for free, school board At-Large member Ryan McElveen said.
What seems like a number-focused video game is quite real, however. Garza came to South Lakes High School Wednesday night for a community meeting about the projected shortfall for the 2017 Fiscal Year, how the budget gap happened — though it is down from a projected $100 million — and why citizens need to take it seriously.
“We have cut almost a half-billion since 2008,” said Garza. “2017 is likely to be one of our most challenging budget years yet. There are going to be very, very difficult decisions to make.”
The FCPS Budget Task Force spent the summer looking at all possibilities — from increasing class size (which has already happened three times in recent years) to charging for AP/IB tests and sports participation to reducing athletic and arts programs to going to a six-period (instead of seven) high school day.
Even all-day kindergarten, which was a gradually implemented and hard-fought addition for FCPS in recent years, is on the task force menu. Going back to half days would save $39 million.
There was no discussion about specific program cuts on Wednesday. There will be a series of town hall-type meetings later this fall, said Garza.
The Superintendent says most of the gap is “out of our control.” Increasing enrollment, increasing need for special programs such as English as a Second Language, increased health care costs, raises for staff and contributions to the state retirement fund are among the top cost drivers, she said.
FCPS gets about 70 percent of its $2.6 billion (2016) budget from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who has said to expect about a 3 percent increase for 2017, said Garza. Without knowing the state contributions or other exact funding numbers, the county deficit alone will be about $55 million, she said.
For 2017, FCPS would like to give incremental step raises and a 1.5 percent cost-of-living raise to teachers. The school system will likely increase by 2,300 students, said Garza.
FCPS reps also showed a video (attached to this post) putting the deficit in simple terms.
Hunter Mill School Board Member Pat Hynes, who serves as school board chair, says everyone should take the shortfall seriously.
“We are now looking at a projected $80 million gap,” she said. “But I cannot support another budget that freezes pay or increases class size. It is early in the process, but we need to know what the shortfall will be and how to make it up. We are taking a lot guesses on the state and Board of Supervisors contributions.”
South Lakes PTSA President Andy Sigle said he thinks the revenue side of FCPS should get together with the spending side much earlier in the process. Read More
South Lakes High School is one of five Fairfax County Public High Schools that is taking part in a pilot program that allows students to ride Fairfax Connector buses for free as an option for getting to and from school and from school to afterschool jobs.
Students can get a special pass from the school system if their parent or guardian signs an agreement/permission form.
The ID cards will allow students to ride the Fairfax Connector (not Metro) buses for free from 6 a.m . to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The buses can accommodate bicycles.
A Las Vegas jury convicted a former firefighter Thursday in the planning of the murder of his wife, 1984 South Lakes High School graduate Shauna Castleton Tiaffay.
Shauna Tiaffay was found bludgeoned to death in her Las Vegas-area home in 2012. Prosecutors said her estranged husband, George Tiaffay, paid a drifter $600 to kill her.
“Shauna was brutally murdered,” Shauna Tiaffay’s sister, Paula Stokes-Richards told reporters. “So many people loved Shauna. We’re just happy and satisfied the jury saw the truth.”
After a week-long trial, the jury found George Tiaffay guilty on seven counts: Murder with Use of a Deadly Weapon; Conspiracy to Commit Murder; Robbery with a Deadly Weapon; Burglary while in Possession of a Deadly Weapon; Conspiracy to Commit Robbery; Conspiracy to Commit Burglary; and Possession of Burglary Tools.
The sentencing phase will begin Friday. George Tiaffay, 43, could face anywhere from 20 years to life without the possibility of parole, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.
Friends and family of Shauna Tiaffay had packed the courtroom all week, many wearing pink in support and unity of Shauna. They cried and hugged when the verdict was read, the Review-Journal reported.
George Tiaffay was a 1994 West Point graduate who was arrested within weeks of his wife’s death. In the meantime, he had driven his truck into a wall in a suicide attempt when it was clear he was becoming the prime suspect, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Also arrested on murder charges at that time was Noel “Greyhound” Stevens. Police said Stevens, who lived in a tent in the mountains near Las Vegas, was the hitman Tiaffay hired.
Stevens at first denied any involvement in Shauna Tiaffay’s death. But Shauna Tiaffay’s clothes were found in one of Stevens’ tents, and Stevens attempted to pawn on of her rings, police said.
George Tiaffay and Stevens were linked to the crime using cellphone records that indicated the men met a few hours after the killing, police said. They were also seen on a store surveillance camera together buying a hammer, knife and gloves.
Stevens later pled guilty to six charges, including first-degree murder. He testified to a grand jury that he hit Shauna, a cocktail waitress at The Palms in Las Vegas, in the head 17 times with a hammer. He testified for the prosecution at the trial and will be sentenced soon.
A lucky South Lakes High School student has a chance at winning a school parking pass for 2015-16 — if he or she can keep a hand on the bus.
SLHS’ Leadership Class is holding its second “Hands on the Bus” contest Thursday morning. Whomever holds on to a parked school bus the longest wins the parking pass (if an eligible driver) or a $200 gift card.
Registration is at 9:15 a.m. The contest, in the student parking lot, begins at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $10, which benefits South Lakes’ Leadership program.
Later on Thursday, the school will host its sixth annual back-to-school block party.
The block party (4 to 7 p.m.) will feature representatives from South Lakes clubs and activities; food for sale from local restaurants such as Duck Donuts and Lucia’s); and other activities and entertainment.
School begins on Monday, Sept. 8.
The murder-for-hire trial in the death of a South Lakes High School graduate got underway in Las Vegas on Monday.
Shauna Castleton Tiaffay, a 1984 SLHS grad, was beaten to death with a hammer in her Las Vegas-area home in September of 2012. Prosecutors said her husband, George Tiaffay, a former firefighter, paid a drifter $600 to kill her.
The Tiaffays were separated and the parents of an 8-year-old daughter at the time of Shauna’s death.
George Tiaffay, a 1994 West Point graduate, was arrested within weeks of his wife’s death. In the meantime, he had driven his truck into a wall in a suicide attempt when it was clear he was becoming the prime suspect, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Also arrested on murder charges at that time was Noel “Greyhound” Stevens. Police said Stevens, who lived at campsites around Las Vegas, was the hitman Tiaffay hired.
Stevens at first denied any involvement in Shauna Tiaffay’s death. But Shauna Tiaffay’s clothes were found in one of Stevens’ tents, and Stevens attempted to pawn on of her rings, police said.
George Tiaffay and Stevens were linked to the crime using cellphone records that indicated the men met a few hours after the killing, police said. They were also seen on a store surveillance camera together buying a hammer, knife and gloves.
Stevens later pled guilty to six charges, including first-degree murder. He testified to a grand jury that he hit Shauna, a cocktail waitress at The Palms in Las Vegas, in the head 17 times with a hammer. He will be sentenced after he testifies for the prosecution at the trial.
George Tiaffay’s lawyer, Robert Langford, has told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Stevens’s testimony is the ranting of a “crazy homeless guy.”
Shauna Tiaffay’s friends and family have had a “Justice4Shauna” Facebook page since 2012.
“Shauna was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside,” the page organizers said. “She was kind, generous and caring, and her life revolved around her daughter. Our hearts ache over this senseless tragedy. Although nothing in this world will ever replace Shauna in our lives, we will work together to make sure the MONSTERS who took her from us pay dearly for this horrific crime.”
Updated, 6:42 p.m. Tuesday:
Fairfax County Police said a teenager was walking along the patch near Salt Kettle Way and Ridge Heights Drive and saw an adult male completely nude, with his hands near his groin area about 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
The victim ran and the suspect fled prior to police arrival. Officers checked the area with assistance from the helicopter, but the suspect was not located, police said.
The suspect was described as a white male, pale skin, a lean build, between 40 to 50 years of age and gray hair.
Original story, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: South Lakes High School principal Kim Retzer is warning students and parents to beware of a naked man seen near the school today.
Retzer sent this email to SLHS families:
A SLHS student reported today that she observed an adult male not wearing any clothes in the park playground area across from the school around 12:45 p.m.
The student reported this incident to us when she arrived at school and our office contacted Fairfax County Police. The police department is investigating and searching for this individual.
As the new school year approaches, this is an opportunity to remind your son or daughter to be aware of their surroundings and avoid any seemingly dangerous situation. Students should travel in pairs to and from school and bus stops whenever possible, and immediately report to an adult any suspicious activity.
The 2015 South Lakes High School All Night Grad Party would like to thank the following businesses that supported us this past year with their generous donations of funds, goods and food.
The All Night Grad Party is an drug-free and alcohol-free celebration for the graduating class of South Lakes and involves the active participation of hundreds of volunteers. We rely on the community and their support to make this special night happen. Thank you so much!
Platinum ($500+)
FrozenYo
Reston Association
Reston Community Center
Fairfax County Police have charged two adults and two youths in connection with back-to-back vandalism cases at South Lakes and Herndon High Schools in early June.
Ryan Jeffrey Wait, 18, Reston and a 17-year-old male from the Reston area have been charged with one count of defacing public property, a misdemeanor, for the vandalism at Herndon High School.
Two males are charged in the South Lakes High School vandalism, Crimesolvers said. A warrant is outstanding for an 18-year-old Reston-area man who is out of the area for the summer. A 17-year-old male from the Herndon area was also charged with one count of defacing public property.
The first incident occurred at Herndon High School early on June 1. The incident at SLHS occurred between 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, and 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, police said.
In both cases, athletic turf fields and other outdoor property were defaced with racial, sexual and other epithets and images. Police said more than $6,000 in damage was caused to both fields.
Hunter Mill officials issued a statement that racist graffiti is “intolerable in our community.”
Crimesolvers had offered a reward for information leading to an arrest. Crimesolvers said Tuesday that the charges did not come from Crimesolvers tips, however.
Photo: Vandalism at Herndon High
