It’s National Library Week! Thank you to all our FCPS librarians, including these from Library Support Services and South Lakes High School: (front row from left) Carla Thompson, Linda Frantz, Meg Rogers, Emily Morton, Terry Rihl, and Taj Ghafar Azah; and (back row) Steven Rogers and Diana Lynn Cruz.
🎤 Don’t Miss the Last Employee Conversation With Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites employees to participate in her final Employee Conversation for the spring on Monday, April 15, 4:30-6 p.m., at Frost Middle School. Register in advance. This conversation is an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts. Reach out to Dr. Reid at any time by submitting a question via the superintendent’s webpage or emailing Superintendent@fcps.edu.
💲 Pay Frequency Survey for 11- and 12-Month Contracted Employees
Later this week, the Offices of Payroll Management and Employee Services and Operations will distribute a new payroll survey to all monthly paid employees. This survey is part of the new HCM project discovery phase. Future pay options are being considered; including changing from monthly pay to biweekly pay and distributing pay over 12 months for less than 12-month employees. A full explanation and examples of the options being considered will be provided in the survey.
Staff input is an important part of the decision-making process so please respond to this survey by Thursday, April 25. The survey email will come from FCPSSurvey@fcps.edu and will only be sent to monthly paid employees.
Nominate Your Colleagues for an Excellence Award
The annual Excellence Awards celebrate both individuals and teams exceeding expectations in supporting FCPS strategic initiatives. Award categories have been updated this year to better reflect the goals in the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
“Excellence” is a peer recognition program. Employees know best about the hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts that occur behind the scenes. That’s why nominations can only be made by current FCPS employees.
Multiple recipients are chosen from each category to receive an Excellence Award, and they are recognized at a celebratory event in the fall. Nominees must be current employees who expect to remain FCPS employees through the end of 2024.
Nominate an FCPS employee or team by Thursday, May 9! Visit the Excellence Awards Employee Hub page for information and nomination materials.
📐 STEAM and Computer Science Professional Learning
Elementary Teachers: Join the 2024-25 STEAM and Computer Science Professional Learning Cohort. Deepen student understanding of engineering and computer science, content learning, and Portrait of a Graduate skills. Bring hands-on resources to your school. Space is limited, and principal approval is required. Preference will be given to schools that have not previously participated in this cohort.
Teams of two to three elementary educators may complete this K-6 application form by Friday, May 17, to be considered for the summer 2024 session.
For more information, email Christopher Scaptura or Joni Smith.
🎭 Set the Stage for Greatness!
Our FCPS advertised budget for next school year proposes a $1.1 million boost in fine and performing arts funding to ensure our theater, drumline, and color guard programs shine even brighter with expanded staff stipends.
Give Your Feedback on the Budget
We are now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback:
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Tuesday, April 16, through Thursday, April 18: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors conducts public hearings on the county budget. Sign up to speak.
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Tuesday, May 7: The County Board of Supervisors adopts its budget, tax rates, and transfer amount to FCPS.
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Tuesday, May 14: The School Board holds a public hearing on the FCPS budget.
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Thursday, May 23: The School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget and see the full Budget Development Calendar.
🗳️ Support Services Employees’ Advisory Council (SSEAC) Election
Each elected representative of the SSEAC will serve a two-year term, working as a liaison between management and employees, representing one of the following community-of-interest groups:
- Group 3 – Food and Nutrition Services
- Group 4 – Custodial and Plant Operations
- Group 5 – Trades/Maintenance/Security
- Group 7 – Management and Administration
- Group 8 – Educational Support
- Group 9 – School-Based Clerical
Interested employees must submit an electronic nomination petition, a candidate statement of contribution, and nomination endorsements of at least 25 members from the candidate’s specific community-of-interest group to the Office of Employee Relations by Friday, May 3.
The SSEAC Election Petition outlines the election process. Contact Sherri Burris at 571-423-3252 or Skburris@fcps.edu with questions.
Annual Retirement Ceremony Scheduled for May 1
FCPS’ annual celebration for retirees and their guests will be held Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m., at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The evening will begin with an hors d'oeuvres reception followed by a ceremony where Dr. Reid, the Leadership Team, and the School Board will recognize retirees for their years of dedicated service.
Invitations will be mailed in the coming weeks. Those planning to retire should submit their Notification of Resignation-Retirement form (HR-2) as soon as possible.
For more information about this event and past ceremonies, visit the Retirement Ceremony webpage. Please contact WeHonorYou@fcps.edu with questions.
🗓️ Calendar Reminders: Eid al-Fitr (Holiday)
In Islam, Eid-al-Fitr is a three-day festival to mark the end of Ramadan. Wednesday, April 10, is an FCPS holiday; all schools and offices will be closed. See the school year calendar or the employee calendar.
Purple Up! Day
To show support for all our military-connected families — like the Phelps family pictured above — we invite students, families, school employees, and community members to “Purple Up!” for military children by wearing purple on Wednesday, April 17. Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green; Marine Corps red; and Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force blue.
School Board Meeting Scheduled for April 11 at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m.
Topics on the agenda include:
- Strategic Plan Goal 5 Baseline Report
- Portrait of a Graduate 10th Anniversary Presentation
- Awarding of Contracts
View the complete agenda.
Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
Staff Staples
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Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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