Three members of the City staff — the City Manager, Planning Director and Economic Development Director — were voted unanimously by the Falls Church City Council tonight onto an “Advisory Evaluation Team” that will be tasked with “conducting an initial review of the responses to the July 30 Request for Conceptual Proposals for a new or renovated high school, expansion of the existing Henderson Middle School and commercial development” of the 34 acres annexed into the City last year known as the Upper West End property. The three appointees named tonight will join the Superintendent of the Falls Church City Schools and the principal of George Mason High School, designated earlier by the School Board. on the advisory group. The responses to the July 30 issue are due October 30 and is in compliance with the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act.

In a report to the Council tonight, City Manager Wyatt Shields assured the members that there are no more confidential steps in the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act process than in any other development process and that the City has used it effectively numerous times before. “It is a tool we are familiar with,” he said. There will be ample opportunities for public review of the process with two town halls scheduled for early December to begin with.