|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
August 29th Board Meeting Recap
Dear Providence District Families,
First, I hope you and your families are enjoying a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend. This year’s celebration holds particular significance as Fairfax County Public Schools has taken a historic step forward by approving collective bargaining for our employees for the first time in nearly half a century. This milestone reflects our commitment to supporting our dedicated educators and staff, ensuring their voices are heard, and strengthening our school community as a whole. As we celebrate this Labor Day, let us recognize the labor movement and the hard work and dedication of all those who contribute to making our schools a place of excellence for every student.
Last Thursday, the School Board held its first Regular Meeting of the new school year (agenda | video). We discussed and considered several important items, including new annual pass rate data for VAAP and SOL tests. As I noted in my remarks on the subject, I was dismayed during the first week of school when the Governor held a press conference about the data before providing it to local school systems. It was especially troubling that he misrepresented Fairfax County’s writing and social studies scores and ignored the fact that we continue to lead the Commonwealth in math, science, and reading.
In addition to discussing new VAAP and SOL data, the School Board also approved important financial year 2024 year-end investments, which included critical resources for extended special education teacher contracts, achievement gap-closing strategies, the DROP program to retain experienced educators, and our new boys volleyball and girls wrestling programs. We also approved contracts for facilities projects at Madison and Fairfax high schools.
Earlier in the week, the School Board met for an all-day Work Session (agenda | video), to discuss several topics, including:
-
State and Federal Legislative Program (presentation): Each year, the School Board adopts a set of legislative priorities to inform local, state, and federal public officials and others of its positions on legislative policy and budget issues of potential importance to the Fairfax County Public Schools community.
-
VBOE Accreditation and Accountability Changes (presentation): The Virginia Board of Education has revised its regulations for establishing standards for accrediting public schools. The School Board discussed the various changes under consideration and potential impacts on Fairfax County Public Schools.
-
Grading Policy and Practices for Secondary Students (presentation): In anticipation of the School Board’s Governance Committee considering revisions to the secondary grading policy, the School Board discussed priorities, current practices, and recent changes.
As always, you are welcome to attend School Board meetings (schedule) and register to share your thoughts with us during community participation at Regular Meetings and Public Hearings (sign-up).
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCAL INVESTMENTS
-
Madison High School Tennis Courts: The board approved a $97,625 contract to complete the refurbishment of five tennis courts at Madison High School – a project already underway – after it was found the ground beneath the courts was very soft and would sink due to the pressure of the paving equipment on its surface (details).
-
Fairfax High School Press Box: The board awarded a $490,000 contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the construction and installation of a new press box at the school’s stadium. Funding for the project will be provided by the City of Fairfax (details).
FINANCIAL YEAR 2024 YEAR-END INVESTMENTS
Video | Meeting Materials
Following its annual audit, Fairfax County Public Schools had $92.3 million in the financial year 2024 funds available for allocation to important year-end funding priorities. Investments included critical resources for extended special education teacher contracts, achievement gap-closing strategies, the DROP program to retain experienced educators, and our new boys volleyball and girls wrestling programs.
Motion: McDaniel / Second: Sizemore Heizer, Vote: Yes 12 / No 0 / Abstain 0
ACADEMIC MATTERS: NEW SOL and VAAP DATA
Video | Meeting Materials
For last Thursday’s Academic Matters report, Superintendent Reid offered an update about new annual pass rate data for VAAP and SOL tests in Fairfax County Public Schools. Fairfax improved in math and science and held steady in reading, outperforming Virginia as a whole in all subjects. Our math pass rates increased even while more students took accelerated math courses (6.8% increase in 5th graders taking Advanced Math and 9.5% increase in 8th graders taking Algebra I or higher).
SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE REVIEW
The board judges the overall success of the Superintendent on the basis of the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s goals and adherence to a set of thirteen Executive Limitations found on pages 14-31 of the board’s Strategic Governance Manual.
Throughout the school year, the Superintendent provides annual monitoring reports to the board for each Executive Limitation. The board then votes on whether the provided monitoring report is in compliance with the Executive Limitation. If the report is found not in compliance, the Superintendent will provide a corrective action memo addressing the board’s concerns.
Executive Limitation 7 - Asset Protection (Corrective Action Memo)
Video | Meeting Materials
During the Regular Meeting on June 13, 2024, the Superintendent delivered her annual monitoring report on Executive Limitation 7 - Asset Protection, which is outlined on page 23 of the board’s Strategic Governance Manual. The board voted to find the report non-compliant at the time of the presentation and requested a corrective action memo. At last Thursday’s meeting, the Superintendent delivered her corrective action memo to the board, which subsequently found the monitoring report now in compliance.
Motion: Sizemore Heizer / Second: Dixit, Vote: Yes 8 / No 2 / Abstain 0
Global Executive Limitations (EL-1) Monitoring Report
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent also provided her annual monitoring report on Executive Limitation 1 - Global Operational Expectations. As outlined on page 15 of the board's Strategic Governance Manual, Executive Limitation 1 stipulates, in short, that the Superintendent shall not fail to maintain a data-informed school division focused on continuous improvement and shall not fail to take reasonable measures to prevent any practice that is unethical, a violation of board policy, or that endangers the division’s public image or credibility. Following the Superintendent’s presentation, the board found her monitoring report in compliance.
Motion: St. John-Cunning / Second: Lady, Vote: Yes 10 / No 0 / Abstain 1
NATIONAL ANTHEM
The board meeting began with a beautiful performance of the National Anthem by a Hughes Middle School student under the direction of Steven McBride.
BOARD MATTERS: PROVIDENCE DISTRICT UPDATE
At the end of each meeting, School Board Members provide updates from their communities about school visits, activities, upcoming events, and more. Here is my update from last Thursday:
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Upcoming School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming School Board Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
All meetings are broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are also recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS YouTube channel. Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at regular meetings or public hearings.
Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español: Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
|
