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The Prince William County School Board first proposed last year to build a middle school at 5901 Davis Ford Road, the current site of a small sewage treatment plant. It's a mostly wooded site near the Davis Ford Road crossing of the Occoquan River. The school would be roughly 135,000 square feet, with 1233 students. Most of these students, over 90%, would come from areas such as Lake Ridge and Dale City. The mid-county area, including the Davis Ford and Bacon Race corridors, has around 147 middle school students.

Area residents have expressed strong interest in the proposed school, with the vast majority feeling that this is not the best site for a school in mid-county. Various concerns have been voiced by citizens, with most related to traffic and environmental considerations. Residents for the most part agree that a school would be an asset for the community, but in a different location. County owned land exists at the McCoart Facility and the Chinn Center that may have potential for a school, along with other sites yet unidentified.

The Davis Ford Middle School Public Facilities Review (PFR) has been heard and denied (turned down) by the Prince William County Planning Commission. Their decision was based on conformance (or lack thereof) to the Comprehensive Plan. The School Board has taken the unusual step of appealing the decision to the Board of County Supervisors. The issue will have a public hearing in July, likely the 11th or 18th.

Update 11/1/07: The Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) deferred indefinitely a decision on the middle school. A task force has been formed by a resolution from the BOCS to advise the board on the future of this property. The task force is to be made up of representatives from the community and county government. A report is expected from the task force by early 2008. Meeting minutes and overview can be found on this site after meetings begin.

We will update this information as it comes in.

MIDCO would like your feedback on this, and all issues affecting our area. Please feel free to contact us with comments.