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Board Meeting Recap: September 26, 2024
Dear Providence District Families,
At last Thursday’s Regular Meeting of the Fairfax County School Board (agenda | video), we discussed and considered several important items, most notably the school division’s state and federal legislative program – the issues we lobby for and against in Richmond and Washington.
As I noted during my comments, our work on these priorities has never been more important, especially around the Virginia Board of Education’s new misguided accreditation framework and our efforts to ensure our schools finally receive average state funding, which would mean $568 million more annually in resources for FCPS:
The board also approved nearly $1.4 million in new investments to retrofit schools with outdoor classrooms. Among schools attended by Providence District students, Marshall, Oakton, and Madison high schools are included in this project package.
Additionally, we received an Academic Matters update from the Superintendent on our elementary school literacy efforts and the annual report on the opening of schools for the 2024-25 school year – we are now the ninth-largest school system in the U.S. and one of Virginia’s largest employers.
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).
In service,
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
P.S. Connect with me and follow my work on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
IN THIS EDITION
LOCAL INVESTMENTS: OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS (MARSHALL, OAKTON, MADISON)
Video | Meeting Materials
The board approved a $1,397,000 contract for the construction of outdoor classrooms to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The project includes new outdoor classrooms for many schools, including three attended by Providence District students, including Marshall, Oakton, and Madison high schools.
Motion: Meren, Second: McElveen / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES
Video | Meeting Materials
Each year, the School Board adopts a State and Federal Legislative Program that includes the school division’s legislative priorities for action in Richmond and Washington. This year’s program emphasizes the importance of fully funding public education at the state level by adopting JLARC’s recommendations, which would mean an additional $568 million in annual funding for FCPS. As big as that number sounds, it would only bring Virginia schools in line with national averages for state support of public schools. Currently, Virginia spends $1900 less per student than the national average. This year’s program also prioritizes accountability standards that fairly assess school performance based on balanced measures of student achievement, student academic progress, engagement, and outcomes toward college and workforce readiness goals and that adequately account for the diverse learning needs of all Virginia students.
Motion: Dr. Anderson, Second: Meren / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
ACADEMIC MATTERS: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY UPDATE
Video | Meeting Materials
For the Academic Matters presentation, Superintendent Reid offered an update about the school division’s efforts to train educators for our new literacy initiatives in elementary schools. Our teachers are doing incredible work to ensure they are following through on the school division’s commitment to shift toward instruction grounded in the science of reading. FCPS is providing them with coaching and support to deepen their expertise under the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA).
ANNUAL OPENING OF SCHOOLS REPORT
Video | Meeting Materials
Superintendent Reid also provided the board with the annual Opening of Schools Report for the 2024-25 school year. As we begin the new school year, Fairfax County Public Schools is the ninth-largest school district in the U.S., with more than 180,000 students who come from 204 countries and speak more than 200 languages in their homes. Additionally, we have more than 40,000 full and part-time educators and other staff, making us one of the largest employers in Virginia.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Video | Meeting Materials
The board unanimously proclaimed September 15 through October 15, 2024, as Hispanic Heritage Month and encouraged Fairfax County residents to participate in programs and events taking place in our schools and community to learn about, celebrate, and elevate the rich Hispanic/Latino heritage.
Motion: Dr. Anderson, Second: Sizemore Heizer / Vote: Yes 12, No: 0
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.
The Superintendent provides annual monitoring reports to the board for each Executive Limitation. The board then votes on whether the provided reports are in compliance with the given Executive Limitation. If the report is found not to be in compliance, the Superintendent provides a corrective action memo addressing the board’s concerns.
Executive Limitation 9: Instructional Program
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent provided her annual monitoring report for Executive Limitation 9: Instructional Program. As outlined on page 26 of the board’s Strategic Governance Manual, Executive Limitation 9 stipulates that the Superintendent shall not fail to maintain a program of instruction for all students that is aligned with the Division’s Strategic Plan Goals and offers innovative academic learning experiences that foster the strengths and meet the needs of each and every learner.
Furthermore, the Superintendent shall not fail to maintain an instructional program that implements professional practices to engage, empower, include, and challenge the whole learner through varied opportunities. Following the Superintendent’s presentation and a thorough board discussion, the monitoring report was found to be in compliance.
Motion: S. Anderson, Second: McDaniel / Vote: Yes 9, No 1, Abstain 1, Not Present 1
STUDENT PERFORMANCE OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
The board meeting began with a beautiful performance of the National Anthem by the Chantilly High School Chamber Chorale under the direction of Evan Ayars.
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 video of my update from the meeting:
UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
Regular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 12, 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
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