Dear Community Members,
What an eventful month just passed, as our community rallied to fund public schools during the Fairfax County budget hearings. I am so buoyed by the hard work and dedication of our advocates, including educators, students, parents, and other concerned residents. We showed up and spoke up to secure the future of Fairfax and our children.
Fairfax County Advertised Budget Limits our Students, Teachers, and Financial Security
I remain concerned about the budget being considered and how we got here, with just days remaining before approval of the resources available for the 2025-26 school year (Fiscal Year 2026).
In short, the needed collaboration has not happened between the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, which is the funding authority that determines annually how much funding will be transferred from the Fairfax County Government to FCPS, and the School Board, which requests the amount needed to fund a successful public education system based on the Superintendent’s proposed budget of spending.
Over half of FCPS’ funding is sourced from the County, and that local burden for Fairfax taxpayers remains a problem to resolve with the state - we must Get The Money from the Governor and Virginia General Assembly in the next General Session that convenes January 2026. However, right now the partnership within our County is critical.
My observation is that the FCPS Advertised Budget (our ask of the County) that was unanimously agreed-to by the School Board on February 20 has not been closely considered by the Fairfax County Executive and Board of Supervisors. Since then, myself and Board Members have requested a joint budget meeting of our two Boards, with no response. I can only hope that the Supervisors will consider these four requests relayed by the School Board, via this budget advocacy letter I helped craft and was sent on Thursday, April 24, to the full County Board:
- Dedicate the Food and Beverage Tax revenue to the school division
- Restore the proposed $7.7 million in reductions, including the Middle School After-School Program and high school crossing guards - including those at South Lakes and Oakton
- Dedicate a portion of the year-end surplus to the school division
- Collaborate for future budget planning
This letter does not include additional advocacy to fully fund the School Board’s request made on February 20, which currently is facing a $150 million shortfall with what the County Board has budgeted. This jeopardizes the first-ever, legal collective bargaining agreement that negotiated a 7% pay raise for FCPS educators and other staff. The County Government underwent this process for the first time last year, and fully funded its negotiated agreement with County employees.
FCPS is the largest, most stable employer in Fairfax. Retaining experienced educators (75% of our teachers have Master’s degrees) competitively paid as compared to area school divisions must be the priority. If our teachers quit and the quality of education decreases, Fairfax loses its major attractor for residents and businesses. Local businesses will lose money spent adjacent to a thriving public school system - dining out or on-the-go before and after school activities, buying sports equipment and playing in leagues, purchasing music lessons and instruments, funding purchases for construction and school equipment, catering from local restaurants for staff and school events. Our schools are not only about kids - they sustain us all.
The Board of Supervisors will have its final public budget meeting, to mark up the proposed budget, on Tuesday, May 6, beginning at 9:30am. The public can attend the meeting to observe, not offer public comment. The meeting will also be live streamed and a recording posted.
Hunter Mill Shows Up and Speaks Up for Fully Funding our Schools
During this critical budget season, I hosted a Hunter Mill Budget Town Hall at Louise Archer Elementary School on April 7, where about 30 residents attended to learn more about local funding. Among familiar faces was student Yug Mehta,an eloquent speaker and debate team competitor at Rachel Carson Middle School. He spoke up for the Middle School After-School Program and was even featured on the news! Joining at the town hall, too, was South Lakes High School Senior, Evan Mead, who coincidentally also was a Carson debate club participant years back! (You may recognize Evan, since he was recently celebrated for earning the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship at UVA, which has a focus on community involvement.)
Soon after the Town Hall, the County Board of Supervisors held three days of public budget hearings. I attended a portion of the first day. Among those speaking was Molly Sullivan, who attended a recent School Board meeting, to advocate for the after school programs as a middle school PTA president and teacher. Hear her views in this WUSA9 news coverage. Also at the hearings were South Lakes HS students, Maja Daniel and Lucy Rossi, whom I’ve come to know during my visits to school. Once again, students Evan and Yug showed up to speak up, and they claimed the attention in the room. Student James, who’s mom is a constituent and FCPS teacher, also advocated. Seeing students and their families advocate and show support was a highlight of the week for me! 👏👏👏
 Lucy talks with the media about the importance of school funding.
Molly Sullivan came to speak at a recent School Board meeting, as a middle school PTA president and teacher, to advocate for the after school programs. Our paths intertwined as we continued budget advocacy, and other advocates include South Lakes High School students Evan Meade and Maja Daniel, and Rachel Carson Middle School student Yug Mehta, who spoke up in defense of the Middle School After-School Program
The School Board is continuing to rally support, as we sent a letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to demand guaranteed school funding from proposed tax increases. You can share your thoughts and concerns on the budget by leaving written testimony.
Ultimately, our County and Commonwealth must decide that funding public education is worth the investment. We can make it happen if we have the will.
School Board Updates and Recent Work
📱Cell Phone Restrictions on the Horizon
I support cell phones being away.
Having served on the School Board during our authorization of the FCPS standing regulation in 2022, prior to the Governor’s executive order and the new law, I am very familiar with the challenges of students using cell phones and enforcing a phone-free learning environment. Over these years I have considered input from students, families, and staff; community engagement efforts; research and presentations; and discussions with advocates and researchers.
There is no easy solution to help our children avoid the distractions created by addictive cell phone technology. As a parent of two teenage students, I truly understand the challenges facing children, families, and educators.
On April 8, the School Board heard feedback from six principals about the cell phone away-for-the-day implementation pilots. The most helpful conclusions to me are:
- Setting and enforcing an expectation about cell phones being away is critical - something that the principal and school administrators must be clear, consistent, and visible about. Enforcing cell phones being away must be a leadership initiative.
- Monitoring cell phone use between classes is a challenge in crowded hallways and staff cannot guarantee consistent implementation of the regulation.
- Teachers must not be burdened with enforcement of cell phones being away. Enforcement worked best when teachers had a method to inform administrators immediately about cell phone misuse in the classroom, and the administrator - not the teacher- would respond to remedy the situation.
- Staff and students reported more interpersonal connections when phones were away. The focused enforcement at the beginning of the school year instilled behavior change. That behavior may dwindle as the year progresses, and a refresh throughout the year can help.
Additionally, the revised Student Rights & Responsibilities regulation that the Board will vote publicly on, on May 8, further clarifies the consequences of not keeping with the cell phone use regulation:
- Confiscation of student article (the device)
- Detention
- Phone relinquished to student at end of school day. Phones not kept overnight.
Most importantly – schools cannot alone help children overcome cell phone addiction. No matter the cell phone regulation in schools, the behaviors for healthy use of technology will best come from lessons instilled by parents and family members, at home. Adult behavior is also part of the solution - adults can turn off students’ access during the school day to devices and apps, and not contact students during instructional time. When families set the expectation for their students, this is the best chance for positive behaviors that will transfer into classrooms.
Ultimately, when students are engaged in learning, they will not be turning to their cell phones to pass the time. Offering engaging, meaningful instruction must be the focus of staff time and energy. This remains my focus in holding the Superintendent accountable for students’ experiences in FCPS.
🏆🏃♂️🏀VHSL State Champions Recognized with Proclamation
The School Board presented a proclamation to our State Champions during our April 24 Regular Meeting, with members of the South Lakes High School Basketball Team present. Jordan Scott was recognized as the VHSL Class 6 Player of the Year, which reflects his hard work and dedication.
✡️Holocaust Remembrance Day Proclamation
As a Jewish American, Holocaust remembrance is personal for me. It was a government-sponsored extermination of 6 million Jews, or 66% of the Jewish population in the world at the time. It is not just an example of barbarism, but antisemitism at its core. I helped author the proclamation read aloud at the April 24, School Board Meeting, which you can find here. I continue working with the Superintendent to ensure that meaningful instruction about the Holocaust occurs in our schools.
Strategic Plan Goal 5 Report: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
At the April 24 Regular Meeting, the School Board received a report on how the School Division prepares high school students for life after graduation. We reviewed graduation rates and academic achievement by demographics while considering college and career readiness. I appreciate the thoroughness of Dr. Reid in factors contributing to high performance and look forward to finding ways to ensure all students reach their full potential.
☀️Solar Power to Save Millions for FCPS Schools
What better way to round out Earth Week than to approve the installation of solar power at our schools. At yesterday's regular meeting, we approved a contract to provide power at Herndon High School, Langston Hughes Middle School, Oakton High School, Aldrin Elementary School, and Terraset Elementary School, for an overall cost savings of over $8 million. We also approved a contract for solar power at 15 elementary schools, including Crossfields Elementary School, Fox Mill Elementary School, and Louise Archer Elementary School, for a total cost savings of $3 million.
On March 4, 2021, the School Board approved participation by FCPS in the solar power purchase program that was procured by Fairfax County Government on behalf of itself. Facilities upgrades – especially those that are energy efficient and reduce climate impact, should not take four years to complete.
Financial Accountability at the School Board
The School Board reviewed and approved the 3rd Quarter budget at the April 10 Regular Meeting. The process includes a thorough review of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for school construction, employee compensation, and more. We also received a report on Executive Limitation 7, Asset Protection, from the Superintendent. She detailed the steps the School Division has taken to maintain and protect our facilities, equipment, infrastructure, and personnel while stewarding taxpayer resources. Between closely reviewing this report and other on-going information, I am confident in FCPS’ processes and trust in the professionalism of our staff in managing $8.7 billion in assets and a $4 billion operating budget.
🏫🚸School Construction Projects approved on April 10
The School Board consented to three contracts benefiting Hunter Mill residents: milling and paving of the South Lakes High School parking lot; stadium lighting replacement at Westfield High School; and running track replacement at Marshall High School.
Recognition for National Board Certified Teachers
The School Board recognized National Board Certified Teachers who recently gained or renewed their credentials. Congratulations to our three James Madison High School teachers Carol Dalmet, Laura Chami, and Jyothsna Vallampati. National Board Certification identifies teachers who meet certain standards through a performance-based, peer-reviewed series of assessment components.
Community Review of Social Studies Basal Resources
The review committee completed its review and recommendations for the adoption of new social studies materials for the School Division. I took the action to ensure the School Board more closely reviews and discusses the curriculum, before we approved it publicly on April 24 - particularly to be clearer about the professional development staff will receive to use the new resources and for the Superintendent to consider how to include cultural instruction that reflects our diversity.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, May 8, 7pm - Regular Meeting
- Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Executive Limitations 3, Relationship with Family & Community Stakeholders
- FY2026 Approved Budget (Presentation)
- Strategic Plan Update
- Thursday, May 22, 7pm - Regular Meeting
- FY2026 Approved Budget (Action)
Committee Meetings (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, May 13, 10am - Public Engagement Committee Meeting
- Tuesday, May 13, 3pm - Governance Committee Meeting
- Tuesday, May 20, 5pm - Budget Committee Meeting
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, May 6, 10:30am - All-Day Work Session
- Secondary Grading Advisory Committee
- Capital Improvement Program (I’m a Meeting Manager and worked closely on preparation)
Hunter Mill Happenings
🤖Madison Robotics Team Wins Big 🏆
The Robotics Team from James Madison High School recently competed at the FIRST Robotics Competition in Houston and won their first match before the end of their historic season. The team is ranked top 200 in the world, 6th in Chesapeake and 3rd in Virginia, and they are ranked in the top 1% worldwide as alliance captains!
Earlier in season, the team won a regional robotics competition as alliance leaders, and they won the Autonomous Award. The list of accomplishments include the Excellence in Engineering Award, Chesapeake District High School, and Galileo Division 8th Alliance Captain. The students and mentors worked seamlessly together for a successful run, with each person contributing to the job at hand. I have been following these students for years and look forward to their continued success!
Celebrate Reston! Remarks, drumline, and Kwame Alexander
 How are the children? This phrase is used as a greeting among the Masai tribe in Africa, and I felt it appropriate to say at Celebrate Reston!, an annual gathering of our diverse community. Each year, we reflect on our progress, hear from local leaders, and enjoy artistic performances. I delivered remarks and emphasized the importance of schools not only to the children, but to everyone. You can view a clip on my YouTube channel.
Also, I finally met renowned author Kwame Alexander, whom I have tried to see for many years! His words inspire me to do better and think differently. I look forward to connecting in the future with this impressive, charismatic, and accomplished constituent.
🧑🏭👷♀️👩🔬Langston Hughes Middle School hosts Career Day
My trip to Langston Hughes Middle School turned into an adventure! I started the day speaking with students during Career Day and sharing my experience on the School Board. The students asked questions regarding proposed cuts to the Middle Schools After-School Program, and they grasped the importance of local government. Afterward, I met the robot dog Spot, who was walking in the hallways! A big thank you to HITT Contracting for sharing their technology with students. Our community is enriched to have these experiences and support from local industry. I want FCPS to continue cultivating the candidates for employment that businesses need for success, and be an attribute that compels workers to move to Fairfax County.
Lastly, I ran into my fitness class instructor, who leads a tough class! At Langston, she spoke of her additional professional work as a speech language pathologist. Wow! 💪
🪖Month of the Military Child 🎖️
April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. I felt honored to move the proclamation to commemorate the occasion at the April 10 Regular Meeting. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience.
Katerina Guillen from Dogwood Elementary School shared her experience growing up in a military household.
"I grew up as a military child, which meant my environment was always changing. One of the few constants in my life was school. I was the teacher’s pet, driven by a desire to succeed and make school feel like a stable, safe place. Over time, school became my home away from home, and it was this experience that inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. My goal is to create a classroom where students feel as supported and valued as I did. I want them to know that they can be true to themselves, follow their dreams, and believe in their potential. Above all, I am dedicated to helping them become the best version of themselves."
🎨🖌️Madison Pyramid Art Show
 The Madison Pyramid Art Show is one of my favorite events of the year - but I had a School Board meeting and so couldn’t attend the show! 😢 I’m glad to see these and other schools’ pictures. Art is an essential part of instruction. 🎨 🖌️
👨💻👩💻FCPS Students Take Top Honors at Virginia FBLA State Leadership Conference 🖨️📈
Our students competed and placed at the Future Business Leaders of American State Leadership Conference, on April 5. They demonstrated proficiency in fields such as accounting, banking, planning, ethics, and much more! Congratulations to the winners, who qualified for the national competition in Orlando in June! Read more here.
Kilmer Middle School Encourages Students through Public Praise
Educators at Kilmer Middle School have celebrated their kindness and community by public write-ups, which acknowledge the good behavior. Read more at the WTOP webpage.
🎺🥁Herndon Alumni Earn 1st Place at North American Brass Band Championship
Congratulations to the Herndon High School alumni for winning the North American Brass Band Championships, with the Cherry Blossom Brass Band!!! Pictured left to right are Jacob Reeves, Julia Taylor, Angela Phelps, and Joey Fogleson. Yay Band!
Armstrong Elementary School Kicks off Renovation Work
Funded by the 2021 construction bond, Armstrong Elementary School is slated to be renovated, with construction starting this spring and scheduled for completion in Summer 2027. I attended the community engagement session on April 9, to learn more about it and hear from parents and residents. Learn more at the project website.
🎤🎶High School Musical Season
It’s high school musical season, with shows this week. Rethink your entertainment - come support our students and enjoy some fantastic performing arts!
Madison HS: Mean Girls the Musical, on May 2, and 3 at 7pm and May 3 at 2pm
South Lakes HS: Once Upon a Mattress, May 2-3 at 7:30pm and May 3 at 2pm
Westfield HS: Sound of Music, May 2 at 7pm, May 3-4 at 1pm
Oakton HS: Into the Woods, May 2-3, 7, 8, & 10 at 7pm
Herndon HS: Footloose, May 2 at 7pm, May 3 at 2pm & 7pm, May 4 at 2pm
Marshall HS: Anything Goes, May 2, 8, & 9 at 7:30pm. May 10 at 2pm
Herndon Pyramid Art Show
Fine arts students will be displaying their work at the Pyramid Art Show at Herndon United Methodist Church beginning Friday, May 2. The work displayed will feature some outstanding creations by students in our Fine Arts courses. There will be a reception from 7-9pm to celebrate their awesomeness.
Reston Community Center Hosts Water Safety Day
As we enjoy the warm weather, we must be safe. Parents lose nearly 400 children each year in the water. Reston Community Center is hosting Water Safety Day on May 10 for families to learn about swimming lessons, first aid, and much more.
Vienna Summer Strings!
If your child is interested in taking Strings next year at Flint Hill Elementary School, consider signing your young musician up for Vienna Summer Strings! The camp will be June 23 - July 11, with July 4 off. This camp is a great place to start learning the basics of playing strings or enhancing the skills they already have.
Other Info of Interest
Former School Board Student Representative Receives National Honors
Rida Karim, who served as the School Board Student Representative from 2023-2024, was named a 2025 NCWIT National Award Winner and was recognized among the top 1% of high school women in technology across the U.S. I’m so proud of her!
FCPS Explores Post-Graduation Pathways for Students: Input Sought by May 18
The Virginia Department of Education recently proposed criteria for assessing student success after high school. Please read this update from our Superintendent regarding our School Division’s approach and consider leaving your input:
“I’d like to share with you an opportunity from the Virginia Department of Education to provide input on proposed updates to the criteria for measuring high school employment, enlistment, and enrollment (3E) Readiness within the new School Performance and Support Framework. When the state Board of Education adopted the framework in September 2024, they did so without acknowledging work-based learning experiences as a meaningful way for students to develop their readiness for employment after high school. The proposed updates to the 3E Employment section add opportunities to recognize high quality work-based learning experiences, expand opportunities to recognize the full range of state-approved industry credentials, and introduce the opportunity to recognize successful completion of state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses for any student.
To support these proposed updates, the state Board will also be adopting updated definitions for four types of “high-quality work-based learning:”
- Registered apprenticeships.
- Internships.
- Clinical experiences.
- School-based enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Historically, school-based enterprise and entrepreneurship have been especially valuable for many of our FCPS students with disabilities and multilingual learners who may be pursuing a nontraditional pathway to graduation. Looking more closely at this example, school-based enterprise and entrepreneurship are work-based learning experiences that provide students with opportunities to design, plan, operate, and grow a business located at the school campus or online. In preparation for the May 20-22 state Board of Education meetings, the Virginia Department of Education released a web-based form to collect public comment about the proposed updates to the Employment section within 3E Readiness. Details on the proposed 3E Employment updates and the link to the public comment form can be found on the VDOE Every Student Succeeds Act webpage. Public comments can be submitted through the online form until Sunday, May 18.”
🚌FCPS Commemorates National School Bus Driver Day
Bus drivers awake well before dawn to start the work day. Our children’s first meaningful adult interaction for the day is often with our dedicated bus drivers, who we entrust with their lives and well-being. I am grateful for their hard work and dedication. My friend recently decided to join the ranks and is training to become a bus driver. 👏👏👏Pamela Ahart-Stewart!
National Fentanyl Awareness Day
April 29 was Fentanyl Awareness Day. Visit the Fentanyl Awareness Day website for more resources on what you can do to help raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl including a conversation guide, fast facts, and social media posts you can share.
FCPS Implements Weapon Detection Program
After planning over the past months, a new weapons detection pilot is launching now in select schools.
FCPS receives no dedicated amount of safety and security funding for personnel or capital improvements (like external cameras) – investments are made via the annual operating budget, which is largely dedicated to funding instructional staff in our schools. Yet, safety is the most frequent topic that is raised to me by students and parents/caregivers, particularly citing requests for adding security personnel and external cameras at each elementary school.
In an effort to continue improving safety for our students and staff, the School Division posted information about the pilot. You can read more at the webpage.
Contacting Me
I prioritize responses to Hunter Mill constituents, so please be sure to identify yourself as such if you contact me. If you are unsure of your county magisterial district, you can look that information up here.
To contact me, it is most helpful to please use the official School Board contact form via my website (click "Submit a Question"). This form prioritizes emails to me from constituents, and helps me track communication so I can be sure you receive a response. Thank you for your cooperation.
Best,
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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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