The Fairfax County School Board on Nov. 13 approved a plan to open Western High School as a comprehensive high school and to begin enrolling students by opt‑in for ninth and tenth grades, after more than three hours of debate over transparency, transportation funding and enrollment phasing.

Board member Asha Dixit moved the recommendation that Western open as a comprehensive school with a special programming pathway and that the division implement an initial enrollment approach that would accept ninth and tenth graders on an opt‑in basis. "We need to get our community and students the information as soon as possible and gauge interest," Dixit said, urging the board to start outreach and registration planning.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reed said the opt‑in approach would initially be limited to the five Western pyramids intended to be relieved by the new school and that staff would cap intake for year one at approximately 500 ninth graders and 500 tenth graders. Reed told the board she would provide monthly updates on enrollment and that planning staff would visit affected schools to inform students and families about course offerings and timelines.

Several board members pressed staff on costs, transportation and the notice process. "I'm disappointed that things were done at the last minute in a very non‑transparent way," said board member Miss Maron, who moved to strike the enrollment‑plan language from the motion on grounds it had not been adequately noticed. The board considered a point of order that the 48‑hour advance rule had not been met; after a short recess the board voted to suspend that rule by the required two‑thirds and continued debate.

Board member Mr. Dunn supported the opt‑in approach as a necessary first step to measure demand, saying it would give staff the operational data needed to determine whether the school could open as planned. Several other members noted the school would likely open its first year as a non‑VHSL (Virginia High School League) participant so students could continue to participate in VHSL activities at their base schools while facilities were developed.

The board adopted an amendment that removed two later phasing lines (opt‑out in 2027–28 and firm boundaries in 2028–29) to reserve further decisions on transportation funding and regional phasing for upcoming work sessions and a December funding vote. The amended main motion then passed 7–3–1 (seven yes, three no, one abstention). Chair announced the clerk's tally as 7–3–1 and the motion carried.

What the vote means: staff will begin outreach to the five affected Western pyramids, publish a Western High School landing page and begin registration and school visits for interested ninth and tenth graders; staff will provide monthly enrollment updates and return with additional detail about transportation costs and final boundary work in spring.

Actions and next steps: The board's vote authorizes the superintendent and central office to proceed with the opt‑in enrollment outreach and initial programming work. Staff committed to deliver details about anticipated transportation costs and the renovation/implementation timeline in the Friday letter and in follow‑up briefings to the board. Additional boundary and funding decisions remain scheduled for December and spring meetings.

Vote: Amended main motion carried 7–3–1. Two separate amendment attempts failed or were withdrawn during the discussion.

Quotable: "We are in a unique position to make a meaningful impact in our community," Dixit said in support of opening the school as a comprehensive model. Miss Maron said she opposed moving forward on phasing without a full public notice and more detail: "We don't have the answer about whether this would require a change to the CIP or the renovation costs."