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Board Meeting Recap: March 27, 2025
Dear Neighbor,
Last Thursday, at the Fairfax County School Board’s Regular Meeting (agenda | video), we discussed several important topics, including an update on our elementary school literacy work, and the Strategic Plan Goal 4 Report on Equitable Access and Opportunity.
The Board also recognized Music, Theatre, and Arts Month, Read Across America and Library Recognition Month, and Transgender Day of Visibility.
Additionally, the Board approved my proposal directing the Superintendent to develop plans for healthier school start times across the entire county and at every level (elementary, middle, and high) with robust community engagement to help shape these plans. Here are my remarks:
Before we dive into all the details about last week’s meeting, I want to invite you to the annual Providence Earth Day Celebration this Saturday, April 5, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Graham Road Community Building:
This family-friendly event, hosted by Supervisor Dalia Palchik in partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, will offer opportunities to connect with neighbors, explore eco-friendly initiatives, and support local vendors.
Finally, we are looking for someone to fill the Providence District seat on the School Board’s Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC), which addresses issues affecting minority student academic achievement. For more information or to apply before the extended April 8 deadline, click here.
As always, you are welcome to attend School Board meetings (schedule) and register to share your thoughts with us during community participation (sign-up).
In service,
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Table of Contents:
Strategic Plan Goal 4 Report: Equitable Access and Opportunity
Video | Meeting Materials
For the report on Strategic Plan Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity, the Superintendent discussed our work to ensure every student has access to high-quality academic programming and resources to support their success. She zeroed in on academically intense course-taking and access to activities.
Completion of rigorous classes is important because it’s linked to on-time graduation, college enrollment and completion, and higher earnings. The Superintendent reported that the vast majority of our students, 75%, are ready or highly ready for postsecondary education.
In addition, we know that 66% of jobs available today require post-secondary education and 80% percent of the jobs lost during the Great Recession were those requiring a high school diploma or less. FCPS is working on several strategies to support rigorous course-taking:
- Using course-taking data to revise offerings, pathways, and requirements.
- Focusing academic advisement practices on strategic scheduling.
- Preparing all students for the rigor of advanced coursework.
- Increasing the number and variety of advanced courses offered.
- Identifying and resolving common barriers to accessing academically intense courses.
Access to activities is linked to student well-being (self-esteem, belonging, mental health), reduced risky behaviors, college enrollment, and college competitiveness. Dr. Reid noted our strategies for improving access to activities include:
- Offering a variety of engaging after-school activities.
- Understanding and addressing barriers to participation.
- Leveraging the Goal Innovation Team.
Following her presentation and a thorough discussion, the Board approved the Goal 4 Strategic Plan Report for SY 2024-25.
Motion: Lady, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 9, No 0, Not Present, 2
Academic Matters: Elementary Literacy Update
Video | Meeting Materials
For Academic Matters, the Superintendent provided an Elementary Literacy Update, specifically, preparing all students to read at grade level by third grade, which is part of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence.
Actions being taken to achieve this goal include delivering evidence-based literacy curriculum across the division (Benchmark Advance), assessing and monitoring student progress using screeners, and providing intensive intervention documented reading plans.
According to new data presented by the Superintendent, 14.2% more third-grade students have gained the foundational skills they need to achieve grade-level success since last fall, and 8.4% percent are no longer below grade level.
As part of her presentation, Dr. Reid shared this video, which shows how a dedicated team of educators is empowering multilingual learners and students with disabilities through a rigorous curriculum, targeted interventions, and inclusive teaching practices.
Planning for Healthier School Start Times
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board approved a measure from Mason District School Board Member Dr. Ricardy Anderson to direct the Superintendent to provide to the Board by April 10, 2025, a cost-neutral plan to implement a pilot of healthier middle school start times at Mason District middle schools (Glasgow, Holmes, Poe) for implementation in the 2025-26 school year.
Motion: R. Anderson, Second: Meren / Vote: Yes 11, No 0
The Board then approved my motion (with Springfield District’s Ms. Anderson seconding), directing the Superintendent to develop a plan, including robust community engagement and consideration of varied student transportation needs, for implementing healthy school start times across the entire county and at all levels (elementary, middle, and high) in conjunction with the holistic boundary review process, which provides an opportunity to take advantage of potential future transportation and programming efficiencies.
Motion: Frisch, Second: S. Anderson / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Abstain, 1
Investing in Safety and Security (Third Quarter Budget Review)
Video | Meeting Materials
FCPS Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden provided the Third Quarter Budget Review for Financial Year 2025 on activity and recommendations made since the Midyear Budget Review. In the School Operating Fund, funds available are increasing by $621,413 due to a settled class-action lawsuit against a vaping company. The recommended expenditure adjustment for FY 2025 is to support Safety and Security Initiatives with these funds.
Transgender Day of Visibility Proclamation
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board proclaimed March 31, 2025, as Transgender Day of Visibility in Fairfax County Public Schools and encouraged all to promote a caring culture of equity, inclusivity, and respect for transgender people, not only on this special day but throughout the entire year as well.
Motion: Frisch, Second: Sizemore Heizer / Vote: Yes 11, No 0, Not Present, 1
Music, Theatre, and Arts Month Proclamation
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board recognized March as Dance In Our Schools, Music In Our Schools, Theatre In Our Schools Month, and Youth Art Month to celebrate and acknowledge every day that Fine and Performing Arts Education, experiences, and opportunities are an essential part of every student’s well-rounded education.
Motion: McElveen, Second: S. Anderson / Vote: Yes 11, No 0, Not Present, 1
Read Across America and Library Recognition Month Proclamation
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board proclaimed April 2025 as School Library Appreciation Month in recognition, gratitude, and commendation of school librarians and library information services employees, the stellar contributions they provide to school communities, and urged students to visit their school and local libraries. The Board also affirmed its commitment to promoting reading and literacy as the catalyst for our students’ future academic success, their preparation for jobs of the future, and their ability to compete in a global economy.
Motion: McDaniel, Second: Dixit / Vote: Yes 11, No 0, Not Present, 1
Student Performance of the National Anthem
The Board meeting began with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem performance by the Johnson Middle School String Quartet under the direction of Anna Sengstack:
Board Matters: Providence District Update
At the end of most meetings, School Board Members provide updates from their communities about school visits, activities, upcoming events, and more. Here is a video of my update from the meeting:
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. (Goal 5 Report and SR&R)
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 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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