Schools in the Washington, D.C., region are taking a page from the Pinellas playbook with controversial plans to close schools and redraw school boundaries.

The Washington Post reports this week that Loudoun and Prince George's counties are planning to close schools while Prince William County contemplates a delay for constructing a new  high school. All of the proposed measures are responses to the economic rececession, and all will cause school boundaries to be redrawn, forcing many families to cut strong ties with schools.

According to one Loudoun parent, families are "loading up the pitchforks and shovels" in preparation for the county's January annoucement on new boundaries.

Says Sam Adamo, Loudoun's director of planning: "I think it's going to get real dicey around here. These will be the most challenging boundary changes we've ever faced."

A related story on Virginia's budget woes helps explain the situation.

- Tom Tobin, Times Staff Writer