January 29, 2020

Dear McNair Elementary School Community, 

During the past several months, you have probably noticed the new school building is quickly taking shape. The construction crews have been hard at work inside and outside the building to get it ready. We are very excited to have the new space for students beginning next school year. 

As part of the process of opening a new school building, we are initiating a month long period of public comment beginning today. We want to hear from the community about suggestions you have for the name of the new school building. 

You are invited to attend a community meeting on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. in our cafeteria to learn more about the process. We will share historical information about the property and how it came to be the location for McNair Elementary School. 

If you are not able to attend the community meeting, we invite you to send name suggestions to us electronically at [email protected] or mail them to the Region 5 Office, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. We will be accepting name suggestions until February 27.  As part of the public comment period, a public hearing before the School Board will be held on February 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3033 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA.

Staff will compile all the name suggestions and submit them to the Superintendent and the Fairfax County School Board. The Superintendent will make a recommendation to the School Board for consideration. 

The Superintendent’s recommendation will be scheduled as new business at a School Board meeting in March. Once the name recommendation has been made, another one month period of public comment will begin. We will hold another community meeting on March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria to collect any additional feedback you offer. A second public hearing before the School Board will be held on March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School. Staff will compile the feedback and submit it to the Superintendent and the School Board. The School Board will vote on the name of the new school at a meeting in April. 

We will continue to provide you updates throughout the process. We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. as we begin the exciting process of naming our new school building. 

Sincerely, 
Rebecca Baenig
Assistant Superintendent, Region 5