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Board Meeting Recap: October 24, 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 Superintendent provided her annual report on Strategic Plan Goal 1, “Strong Start,” with an emphasis on the school division’s efforts to ensure we meet multilingual students’ needs and expand access to high-quality and inclusive preschool services.
I noted in my remarks how disappointed I am with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for playing games with Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) funds. In recent years, FCPS has filled all its VPI-funded preschool slots. In fact, we have been so successful that VDOE recently asked how many additional seats we could fill. However, rather than fund these additional preschool slots, they reversed course and cut our funding instead:
Despite the lack of sufficient support, FCPS still managed to make significant progress. In the past two years, the school division has increased the number of students in its preschool programs by 3 percent (358 students), contributing to a 9 percent reduction in the number of students without a pre-K experience. That said, much more must be done to ensure our pre-k services are inclusive.
For our multilingual students, progress over the past year has been even more impressive, with the percentage meeting the state standard for progress toward English language proficiency increasing by an incredible 11 percent, no doubt bolstered by our focus on targeted interventions and access to more high-quality multilingual instructional materials and supports.
Another highlight from the meeting was our recognition of Spring Hill Elementary School for being named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, and Sangster Elementary School, and Thomas Jefferson, John R. Lewis, South Lakes, and West Potomac high schools for receiving Exemplar Awards from the Virginia Department of Education.
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
Table of Contents
Strategic Plan Goal 1 Report: “Strong Start”
Video | Meeting Materials
The School Board judges the overall success of the Superintendent on the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-30 Strategic Plan goals and adherence to a set of thirteen Executive Limitations found on pages 14-31 of the board’s Strategic Governance Manual. Annual goal reporting provides an update on the school division’s progress towards achieving its Strategic Plan goals.
At last week’s meeting, the Superintendent provided her annual report on Strategic Plan Goal 1, “Strong Start,” with an emphasis on the school division’s efforts to ensure we meet the needs of multilingual students and expand access to high-quality and inclusive preschool services. Following the Superintendent’s presentation and a thorough discussion, the goal report was accepted by the board.
Motion: Moon, Second: S. Anderson / Vote: Yes 10, No 1 (Not Present: 1)
Exemplar Awards and National Blue Ribbon Award Recognition
Video | Meeting Materials
Dr. Reid congratulated schools that received significant special recognition for student achievement. Spring Hill Elementary School received the high honor of being named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Meanwhile, the Virginia Board of Education recognized Sangster Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology with the Exemplar Performance School Award, which recognizes schools that exceed requirements on academic and school quality indicators. John R. Lewis, South Lakes, and West Potomac high schools received the Exemplar Award for Continuous Improvement.
Collective Bargaining: Election Certification for Administrators and Supervisors
Video | Meeting Materials
On September 4, 2024, the Fairfax County Federation of Principals, Supervisors and Administrators (FCFPSA) met the criteria to go to election to represent the Administrators and Supervisors employees by providing evidence that at least 30% of the employees in the unit demonstrated interest in going to elections.
From September 10 to September 20, 2024, elections were held. The Labor Relations Administrator (LRA), a neutral third-party labor professional, oversaw the process. Ballot Point, an election software company retained by FCPS, provided the platform for secret ballots.
For the Administrators and Supervisors employees’ bargaining unit, 96.41% voted in favor of representation and 3.58% voted against. Following the required fourteen-day objection period, the School Board voted to certify the results, and recognize and certify the FCFPSA, as the exclusive bargaining agent for the Administrators and Supervisors bargaining unit.
Motion: Dunne, Second: McElveen / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
Student Athletics and Activities Month Proclamation
Video | Meeting Materials
The board unanimously proclaimed October 2024 as Student Athletics and Activities Month in recognition of the many achievements of students participating in school athletics and activities and the generous contributions and efforts of the athletic coaches and trainers, club sponsors, student activities staff, parents, faculty, and school communities who support them.
Motion: Lady, Second: McElveen / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
Hindu American Heritage Month Proclamation
Video | Meeting Materials
The board proclaimed October 2024 as Hindu American Heritage Month and encourages all Fairfax County residents to participate in the programs and events hosted by our schools and community, as we recognize, celebrate, and honor the rich heritage and enduring contributions of Hindu Americans.
Motion: Dixit, Second: McDaniel / Vote: Yes 11, No 0 (Not Present: 1)
Student Performance of the National Anthem
The board meeting began with a beautiful performance of the National Anthem by a Trio from the Glasgow Middle School Chorus under the direction of Caleb Caldwell:
Student Performance Celebrating Hindu American Heritage Month
In celebration of Hindu American Heritage Month, students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s Namaste Club performed under the direction Patricia Lister:
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 the video of my update from the meeting:
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 3, 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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