Sandy Evans's
Year-End School Board Report
Hello, Everyone,
I hope all of you are enjoying your summer! As the Board completes its work this month and we soon start on preparing for the 2018-19 School Year, I wanted to provide you with a year-end update.
FY2019 Budget
For the first time in decades, the school budget is fully funded. This is excellent news for all of our schools and enabled the Board to move faster on its top priority of bringing teacher and other salaries up to competitive levels. Our $2.9 billion approved budget, which went into effect July 1, makes a $53 million investment in improved teacher salary scales and includes $43.9 million in step increases for all eligible employees. We also helped more of our amazing parent liaisons receive contracted positions and benefits for their work, something I’ve strongly advocated for.
As this year’s School Board Budget chair, I particularly want to thank our funding partners at the Board of Supervisors and at the state level for their support for much-needed increases. FCPS remains the 10th largest school district in the country, and we are projected to have more than 190,000 students in the coming school year.
Safety and Security
After the tragic school shooting in Parkland, FL, the Board directed the superintendent to review all of our safety and security protocols and make recommendations for enhancements. Dr. Brabrand’s proposals include such items as enhanced training and drills, improved locks and surveillance cameras, and enhanced mental health supports
The Board is scheduled to vote Thursday night on adding $1.8 million in funding to replace classroom locks and for more school-based security training and another $2.2 million for 18 more positions for mental health support and threat assessment in our schools.
We will continue to assess other ways to make every school and classroom safe and secure. One important element in my view is making sure all students and staff know where to go to report concerns, feel comfortable doing so and knowing that there will be follow-up on those concerns. I’ve been asked if I support arming teachers, and I do not.
Our Board also approved a Resolution calling on federal and state officials to pass legislation that more effectively regulates access to firearms, funds public-health research on firearms-related issues, and advances mental health supports.
More Recess!
Over the past year, advocates for more recess have been working with FCPS and the state to enable more unstructured outside playtime for elementary students, the much-beloved recess. I was happy to support and help these advocates as they promoted state legislation that allows for more recess time by adding flexibility to class instruction time requirements. The superintendent has used this flexibility to require at least 30 minutes a day for all elementary school students, starting this fall. I believe this is a healthful improvement, as young children need time outside and breaks for physical and mental health as well as to improve learning. One issue that has arisen is whether students in middle school, or at least the 6th graders in middle school, should get recess, as well. As our Mason District middle schools—Glasgow, Poe and Holmes—are the only ones with 6th grades, I’ve asked the superintendent to collect information from the middle schools on whether this would be feasible and advisable. I’ll look forward to hearing what he learns and would welcome your views on this subject.
Strategic Plan
The Board continues to review and refine our Strategic Plan, which guides the school system and its priorities. At our July 23rd work session, we discussed the latest draft with the major themes and goals for the upcoming school year and will continue to look at how to measure success when we return in the fall.
Free Daily BBQ Lunch
Come and join us for free barbeque lunches every weekday this summer, through Monday, Aug. 27, at 19 schools and other sites throughout the county. The sites in or near our area include: Bailey’s ES (Primary), Bren Mar Park ES, Poe Middle School, Graham Road Community Center, Vistas of Annandale, James Lee Community Center, and the Chelsea Square Apartments in North Springfield.
The lunches are free to all children. Adults are charged $2. Serving Mon-Fri, most from 11:30 am to 1 pm. No registration or ID is required, and all are welcome. Addresses and times
Summer Kids Produce Market
In addition, Bren Mar Park ES will host a Summer Kids Produce Market from 11:30 am to 1 pm on Thursday July 26 to give out free fruits and vegetables on a first-come, first-served basis. Students attending summer school will be the first to receive bags of produce, and then the school site will be open to the public while supplies last.
Justice HS Transition
J.E.B. Stuart High School now is Justice High School (JHS). The Board voted last year to change the name to better reflect the values of inclusion and diversity in our community. The transition has gone smoothly with the Justice sign on the front of the building, on the marquee and scoreboards, the Justice Wolves banners looking great in the parking lot, and the gym floor and welcome mats sporting the beautiful new Wolves logo. Fall uniforms are in and ready to go.
A rededication ceremony is scheduled for 5 pm Friday, Sept. 7, in the Justice HS auditorium just before the football game. Anyone wishing to contribute to the name change transition - most of it going to new sports and band uniforms for students - may do so through this donation page.
Go Justice Wolves!
Justice Pyramid Resource Fair
August 9th
The fourth annual Pyramid Resource Fair will be held Thursday, August 9th from 1-4 pm at Justice High School. With contributions from community partners and individuals, the Resource Fair will provide school supplies, haircuts, books, medical screenings, and vision/hearing screenings, and information to help students and parents in the JHS pyramid (which includes JHS, Glasgow MS, Glen Forest ES, Bailey's ES, Bailey's Upper ES, Belvedere ES, Beech Tree ES, Sleepy Hollow ES, Parklawn ES) Additional Details
Please consider making a donation.to this worthy effort.
Falls Church HS Food Pantry
Help Us Fill the Falls Church High School (FCHS) Pantry.
FCHS in collaboration with the FCHS PTSA, is pleased to announce the opening of the FCHS Pantry. The pantry is a place where students in need can discreetly “shop” for free and pick up basic necessities.
You can help us fill the pantry by shopping at the
Falls Church HS Pantry Amazon Wish List (orders ship directly to the school).
Taste of Annandale - October 13th
Save the Date for
the 4th annual Taste of Annandale festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Saturday, Oct. 13, on Tom Davis Drive in the heart of Annandale. The festival
celebrates Annandale’s diversity and civic engagement with food, live
entertainment, a 5K race, children’s programs, chili cookoff, pet contest, and
more. Anyone interested in participating– as a sponsor, food vendor, other
vendor, or entertainer – may find sponsor forms online or contact the Taste of
Annandale Steering Committee Chair Bob Kahane at bkahane@cox.net.
I’ll see you there!
Welcome New Principals
I’m pleased to welcome several new principals to our Mason District Schools. These are amazing leaders, and I look forward to working with them. Their schools and their names (linked to their bios) are listed below.
Justice High School -Maria Eck
Frost Middle School - Anthony Harris
Mason Crest Elementary - Sherry Shin
Woodburn Elementary - Katy Richman
School Calendars
The first day of the upcoming 2018-19 school year is Tuesday, Aug. 28. The school calendar includes a full two-week Winter Break, a week of Spring Break, and ends Thursday, June 13.
The Board also recently adopted the 2019-20 calendar for the school year starting in fall of 2019 to give parents, teachers and others more than a year to plan. Like this year, we will start a week before Labor Day, will have two full weeks of Winter Break, and will end in mid-June.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of summer, and I’ll look forward to seeing you at events at your schools in the fall.
Best,
Sandy
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