Arlington County’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) voted unanimously to support designation of and adopt design guidelines for the Stratford School Local Historic District. Based on a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between then Arlington County Manager Carlee and then Arlington Superintendent Smith, the designation follows a slightly different path to approval than is outlined in the Zoning Ordinance (click here to read the MOU). According to Arlington Public School (APS) staff, the matter could go to the School Board as an “informational item” as early as August, pending other items on their agenda. It could take longer. However, Arlington County Preservation staff and APS have outlined a schedule in which the designation could be voted on by the Arlington County Board by the end of 2015.

The June 17 HALRB hearing included staff reports from both the Arlington County Preservation Office and APS staff, public testimony from over a dozen people, including Michael Jones, one of the four students who enrolled in Stratford on February 2, 1959, and, a spirited discussion on the tremendous importance of this building and the events which unfolded here and their impact on education, Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Documents presented to HALRB as part of the hearing on the Stratford School Local Historic District are available on the County website:
Designation Report
Designation Report Appendix
Boundary Map
Stratford School Historic District Design Guidelines
Process Summary