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Board Meeting Recap: May 8, 2025
Dear Neighbor,
Last Thursday, at the Fairfax County School Board’s regular meeting (agenda | video), we discussed several important topics, including the Superintendent’s FY 2026 proposed budget with revisions based on likely funding levels from the Board of Supervisors, and updates to Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R), particularly around student cell phone usage.
During my comments about the budget, I addressed the added burden educators will take on in exchange for the increased salaries they negotiated through collective bargaining and the incremental progress we have made with our advocacy for more state education funding:
In addition to these topics, we also assessed the Superintendent’s relationships with families and community stakeholders, and celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Freedom Hill Elementary, Educator Appreciation Week, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
I invite you to learn more about last week’s meeting by reviewing the updates below. And, 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:
Cell Phone Updates to Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R)
Video | Meeting Materials
The School Board approved updates to the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) regulation to ensure greater equity and clarity.
The most high-profile change is to the school division’s cell phone policy. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, high school students must turn off and personally store their mobile devices and accessories (AirPods, smart watches, etc.) during instructional time and passing periods between classes. Such devices may only be used by high school students during lunch.
As in past years, middle school students’ phones must be silenced and kept put away for the duration of the school day – they may be used on campus only before the first bell and after the last bell. Similarly, elementary school students’ phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day – they may be used on campus before and after school only.
Additionally, the revised SR&R explicitly prohibits disciplinary actions such as suspension or expulsion solely for cell phone policy violations.
The revised SR&R also reinforces the school division’s commitment to restorative discipline, student voice, and inclusive environments. It incorporates new definitions and procedures around hate speech, battery, digital safety, and discipline data monitoring. Training for staff, student lessons, and family resources will help ensure understanding and enforcement.
Motion: Sizemore-Heizer, Second: S. Anderson / Vote: Yes 9, No 1, Absent 2
Superintendent Revises Proposed Budget Based on County Transfer
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent presented revisions to her FY 2026 budget proposal, outlining the school division’s plans for navigating a $149.6 million shortfall in requested funding, while still prioritizing classrooms, educators, and student achievement. To balance the budget, the Superintendent is recommending $121.3 million in expenditure adjustments, including scaling back employee compensation increases to 6% for Fairfax Education Union-represented staff and 5% for others (both down from the initially proposed 7%), deferring $15.3 million in new social studies instructional materials, and reducing classroom monitors and special education department chair allocations.
The recommended staffing formula changes will reduce 275 positions across schools, averaging fewer than 1.5 positions per school, which may affect the division’s competitive standing in the region. Other cuts include across-the-board reductions to central office budgets, electric bus funding, and nonlocal professional development travel. Despite these difficult choices, the division remains committed to maintaining its focus on student success and classroom quality. The School Board is scheduled to conduct a revised budget public hearing tonight, hold a final budget work session on May 20, and vote to adopt the FY 2026 Approved Budget on May 22, ahead of the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Superintendent Performance Review
The School Board evaluates the overall success of the Superintendent based on the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan goals and adherence to a set of thirteen Executive Limitations outlined 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 3: Relationships with Families and Community Stakeholders
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent provided her annual monitoring report on Executive Limitation 3: Relationships with Families and Community Stakeholders.
As outlined on page 17 of the Board’s Strategic Governance Manual, Executive Limitation 3 stipulates that the Superintendent shall not fail to maintain an organizational culture that facilitates collaborative, trusting, and responsive partnerships with its diverse stakeholders. Additionally, the Superintendent must treat families, students, volunteers, community partners, and residents with respect, honesty, and transparency while maintaining strong links with the public to keep them well informed. Specific expectations include fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, ensuring timely and accurate information in multiple languages, encouraging meaningful two-way engagement with families, establishing effective feedback processes, maintaining collaborative community partnerships, and providing timely responses to concerns raised by families and community members.
Following the Superintendent’s presentation and a thorough discussion, the Board found that the monitoring report was in compliance with EL-3.
Motion: McElveen, Second: Sizemore-Heizer / Vote: Yes 11, No 1
Academic Matters: Classroom on Wheels
Video | Meeting Materials
For Academic Matters, the Superintendent highlighted the Classroom on Wheels initiative, a student-led project at Marshall Academy where Auto Tech and Engineering students collaborated to transform a retired school bus into a mobile learning lab. This hands-on project not only provided students with real-world skills such as mechanical repair and interior design, but also embodied the value of career and technical education across Fairfax County Public Schools. The project was documented in a video shared during the meeting:
Classroom on Wheels is designed to provide extra academic support directly where students live and to help strengthen connections between schools and families. Phase 1 involved the bus transformation; Phase 2, launching this summer, will pilot the program with targeted student outreach and strategic community deployment to areas of greatest need. This innovative project is a model of proactive partnership and responsiveness that directly supports student learning and engagement in alignment with the division’s strategic goals.
Proclamation: Freedom Hill Elementary’s 75th Anniversary
Video | Meeting Materials
The School Board honored Providence District’s Freedom Hill Elementary School on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, highlighting its legacy of academic achievement, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and unwavering dedication to fostering a vibrant, supportive, and innovative learning environment for future generations. It was wonderful to see such a strong and spirited turnout from the Freedom Hill community. We were also honored to have Virginia Senator Saddam Salim join us to celebrate this special milestone.
Motion: Frisch, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
Proclamation: Educator Appreciation Week
Video | Meeting Materials
The School Board proclaimed May 5-9 as Educator Appreciation Week in Fairfax County Public Schools, and recognized, honored, and extended its highest commendation to Teachers, Paraprofessionals, After-School Professionals, and Related Service Providers. The board called on the Fairfax County community to express their appreciation and celebrate our educators for their skill, dedication, and devotion to their work.
Motion: Dixit, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
Video | Meeting Materials
The School Board proclaimed May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Fairfax County Public Schools, celebrating and recognizing the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to our community.
Motion: R. Anderson, Second: Meren / Vote: Yes 12, No 0
Student Performance of the National Anthem
The Board meeting began with a beautiful performance of the National Anthem by Carl Sandburg MS Symphonic Band under the direction of Beth Anderson-Morgan.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Public Hearings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Budget Public Hearing: Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Regular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (Auditor General Annual Report)
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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