Community Corner

It Took a Village: South County Middle School Dedicated

The place is more than just bricks and mortar.

Many said it impossible. After all, how could the financially-strapped Fairfax County Public Schools system construct a much-needed middle school in Lorton?

Well, it's been nearly a full school year since South County Middle School  opened its doors, and on Wednesday afternoon the home of the Mustangs was formally dedicated by students, parents, school administrators and public officials.

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"It has been an incredible journey to be involved every step of the way in the development of the new middle school, from watching the building slowly rise from the ground to choosing the name of the school," said Nathan Kim, president of the South County Middle School Student Government Association, at the dedication ceremony in the school gymnasium. 

In 2008, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allocated $10 million to the school system to build an addition to South County Secondary School (which is now a high school due to the opening of the middle school), which packed the building over capacity with middle and high school students. So, that same year, the Board voted to build South County Middle School instead, and saved $35 million by using the development plans for Glasgow Middle School and swapping land with the Fairfax County Park Authority. 

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"This is a great day for the South County community," said Sharon Bulova, chair of the Fairfax County board of Supervisors. "The community was galvanized because of this middle school."

Lorton parents Christine Morin and Kim Kern founded the South County Middle School Solutions Group - the local fundraising effort that spurred the development of the property. 

"It wasn't easy at first. We were told there may not be a need for a middle school, that there was no funding available and that 'You will never have enough students to justify a stand alone middle school.'" said Morin. "There were a lot of meetings with the school board, the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission… We made presentations to homeowners associations, we marched in parades, passed out fliers. We successfully held a rally on a rainy Wednesday night and about 300 people who attended. And after that we made sure that every politician was committed to helping us."

The school opened in September 2012. Capacity at the 40-acre middle school is 1,350 students, and there was just over 1,000 enrolled students on opening day.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland said the dedication was a long time in coming. 

"This absolutely would not have happened if it were not for the parents, activists and people from this community who decided what they wanted to have done and made the government move and work for them - and this is the result," said Hyland.  

Dan Storck, the Mount Vernon School Board representative said the dedication of the school was a dream come true. "We clearly did not just want to build a wing at South County Secondary School," he said.  

And to top it all off, Principal Marsha Manning was recently named the FCPS Outstanding First-Year Principal.

"We will not forget that this is the community's school," said Manning. "And now, it is time to celebrate by going into our cafeteria and enjoying some lemonade and cupcakes."   

More South County Middle School Stories: 

Read: South County Middle School Update - What's Next

See: Photos South County Middle School Holds Open House

Read: Marsha Manning Named Principal of South County Middle School

Read: Suspense: And the South County Middle School Mascot is...

See: Photos: Mustang Round-up at South County Middle School

Read: South County Middle School Opens Doors

Read: Obama Sends Second Letter to South County Middle School

Read: South County Middle School's Marsha Manning Named FCPS Outstanding First-Year Principal


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