Near-Capacity Loudoun Valley Answers an Addition Problem

While the politicians mull the messy details of building another school, students and teachers are bracing for a crowded school year.

After practice, the cheerleaders sprawled on mats and made posters with markers and poster board, welcoming back students with hand-drawings of footballs and the phrase, "Go Vikes!"

They told stories of hour-long school bus rides last year, gridlocked hallways and lunch lines so long that stragglers barely had time to eat.

"Some people don't even use their lockers, because they know it's going to take too long between classes," said Alison Zook, 17, a senior from Hillsboro.

As freshmen at Harmony Intermediate School, the cheerleaders and their ninth-grade classmates were bused to the high school for pep rallies and homecoming, only to go back to the intermediate school for classes.

They spoke of the need for a new school -- but eventually, not today.

"I think it's a good idea, but I wouldn't like it if it was our class," said senior Alicia Page, 17, of Round Hill, coloring in a capital green 'V' on her poster.

Joyce Phillips, the cheerleading coach and a physical education teacher at Loudoun Valley, carefully stepped around the tangle of legs on the mats, making sure there were as many posters for cross-country and golf as there were for football.

Since 2002, she's seen the enrollment creep back up to the point where she doesn't know all the students by name, she said.

Still, she said, it's nothing that the teachers can't handle.

"We would certainly prefer it to be at a more comfortable number," she said. "But we're teachers. Give us a subject and a bunch of kids, and we're happy."