Walney Oaks Community Calls on FCPS to Halt Unfair Rezoning Proposal

**10/31 Update: At the 10/30 boundary meeting at Chantilly High School, the Walney Oaks Community concerns were shared directly with Dr. Reid, who appeared to give thoughtful consideration to our case. She noted that additional work is needed on the boundary maps for the new Western High School and indicated that the process will likely extend beyond the originally planned seven-week timeline.**

CHANTILLY, VA — The Walney Oaks community is urging Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid to pause proposed boundary changes that would once again divide their children from long-established peer groups and school communities. Residents say the plan violates core principles of stability, walkability, and fairness — and repeats harmful patterns dating back two decades.

Walney Oaks, a neighborhood of just 158 homes off Walney Road, was originally zoned for the Poplar Tree → Rocky Run → Chantilly school pyramid. Despite repeated objections, the community was rezoned in the early 2000s to Brookfield → Franklin, creating a split-feeder pattern and disconnecting children from the majority of their elementary school peers.

Now, with the creation of the new western high school, Walney Oaks faces a second split-feeder situation — moving students from Franklin Middle School to Westfield High School instead of Chantilly, separating them again from their peers and neighborhood network.

“Our children were separated once — against every walkability and community-based planning principle — and now it is happening again,” said Heather McCain, speaking on behalf of Walney Oaks residents. “This isn’t just a map exercise. This is childhood. These are friendships. This is stability. Our kids shouldn’t have to be the ‘new kids’ over and over again through no fault of their own.”

Key Concerns Raised by Walney Oaks Parents

Residents cite several violations of FCPS guidelines and county planning principles:

• Split feeder creation — contrary to FCPS boundary committee charter
• Loss of community cohesion — separating children from nearby neighborhoods that remain zoned for Rocky Run and Chantilly
• Lack of walkability & safety — forcing students to cross Route 28 or Route 50 to reach Franklin and Westfield, contradicting Virginia Safe Routes to School guidance (Virginia Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Policy: Both the state and FCPS emphasize walkability and student pedestrian safety. Rezoning that forces students to cross Route 28 could be argued as inconsistent with this policy. Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan: Encourages reducing car dependency and supporting walkable communities. Rezoning away from a walkable high school undermines this. School Board Regulation 8130 (Boundary Adjustments): States that safety, proximity, and travel conditions are key criteria. )
• Unnecessary transportation burden — longer commutes and reduced access to after-school activities (ADA / Accessibility Concerns: If any students in our community have mobility issues, longer travel and unsafe routes may be considered a hardship.)
• Minimal capacity benefit for FCPS — small community impact vs. high student disruption
• Limited transparency — major changes revealed only at the "11th hour" at a western high school open house where residents did not know maps would be unveiled

“This feels like we were targeted simply because we’re small and easy to move, not because it’s the right thing for kids,” McCain added. “We have spent months participating in the boundary review process, only to discover an entirely separate private process has been underway that directly affects us.”
Residents are calling on FCPS to:

• Halt rezoning plans that create or worsen split feeders
• Restore walkable zoning to Rocky Run and Chantilly
• Ensure transparent decision-making and equal review time
• Prioritize student well-being and continuity over marginal capacity adjustments

“No one here is opposing new schools or smart planning,” McCain said. “We are asking for consistent, fair, student-centered decisions that align with county policies — not carve-outs that isolate children for convenience.”

About Walney Oaks

Walney Oaks is a tight-knit Fairfax County neighborhood built in 1997–1998, located adjacent to Brookfield Elementary and near Rocky Run Middle and Chantilly High School. The community values walkability, safety, and long-standing school and neighborhood ties.

Call to Action

Residents are urging supporters across Fairfax County to stand with Walney Oaks and sign the petition to protect neighborhood continuity and student well-being.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Wolff
Email: jen.wolff.designs@gmail.com
Petition Link: https://c.org/pqFLqFRLLs