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Dear Community Members,

You have two opportunities this week to Show Up and Speak Up:

1. Tuesday, November 4 is Election Day. Polls are open 6:00am to 7:00pm. 
2. Wednesday, November 5, is my Community Engagement Summit, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna. 

More information about both is below. 

 🏫UPDATE: Western HS Boundary Decision Slows Down

Our advocacy together has made a difference. 

Here is what I know as of this newsletter’s sending date:

The Superintendent has recognized that the timeline to assign students to Western’s first class for fall 2026 is too ambitious. There will be too many unanswered questions for families to comfortably prepare students for such a transition. 

Second, it comes down to County permitting. It was during the October 30, first meeting of the Joint Facility Review Committee, of which I’m on, that it became clear that permitting to transition the building for a fall opening by FCPS would not be completed in the needed timeline. A key factor is completing the “2232 Process”, in a best-case scenario of five months. This is not enough time to then COMPLETE necessary structural adjustments to the facility by the fall. 

Additionally, it’s become clear that the school division needs to maintain its original commitment to the comprehensive boundary review process that has been underway for over a year. The thoughtful work of the comprehensive review deserves focused attention until the planned completion when the School Board votes on January 22, on the Superintendent’s proposed changes. Also, I have seen how hard FCPS staff are working on all of these efforts, and it’s not sustainable nor optimal.

I am relieved to see a reasonable approach to opening this new public facility asset in FCPS. I understand that the Board will still vote publicly as scheduled on November 13, on the school’s “programming”, which means establishing the school as a comprehensive “traditional” high school, rather than a magnet, with a to-be-determined boundary drawn from the local geographic area. This remains aligned with FCPS’ Capital Improvement Program (CIP) long-term plan to alleviate overcrowding at Westfield, Chantilly, and Centreville High Schools. The Board’s specific meeting agendas are posted on Board Docs days prior to a meeting. 

Western HS remains an exciting opportunity and new public facility asset, and a tremendous financial savings to Fairfax taxpayers. More information about the purchase of Western HS is here. 

🏫UPDATE: Comprehensive Boundary Review Process

In October I heard two key themes from residents about the boundary review work:

1. Concerns and questions about how and when students are to be phased in to newly-assigned boundaries (previously referred to as “grandfathering”)
2. Specific advocacy supporting or opposing the Scenario 4 proposed changes.

Regarding boundary phasing: I advocate that phasing avoid disrupting families with siblings in secondary grades, especially regarding the transition from a middle school building to a high school building. I support phasing that allows families with a student(s) in high school and a student(s) in middle school to continue having their middle school student(s) follow into their sibling’s high school. I support such phasing for this initial implementation of the boundary review work, to ease us all into new boundaries that optimize resources and reduce split feeders among pyramids. Boundary review goals do not all have to be achieved in this first year of implementation! Furthermore, the changes that the Board adopts on January 22, 2026, cannot be a one-size-fits-all determination for this geographically huge county. There are different opinions among School Board Members about this, though, so your continued advocacy to the full Board remains important. 

Regarding Scenario 4: At the many community boundary meetings I attended in October that were convened by the Superintendent, I heard feedback and recurring concerns. I’ve also received much feedback via email. The interactions I’ve experienced are respectful and thoughtful, and this is helpful to me. In November I’m planning on targeted discussions with groups of constituents in distinct pockets of Hunter Mill where Scenario 4 is raising a mix of support and concern. Thank you to leaders and members of PTAs/PTOs/PTSAs for being advocates who are bringing forward the mission to engage in conversations about children, families, and schools.   

Here is the current schedule of public School Board meetings with expected actions, regarding Western HS and boundary changes:

• November 12: Board discussion of all proposed boundary changes (Board work session)
• November 13: Vote on Western HS having traditional geographic boundaries, or not (referred to as “Programming”)
• December 4: Presentation about boundary change phasing decisions; Naming of Western HS may also be discussed
• December 18: Vote on boundary change phasing decisions; Public Hearing about Naming of Western HS
• January 8, 2026: Vote on the naming of Western HS; final school boundary change presentation and Board discussion
• January 10: Public Hearing about school boundary changes; information to be shared about how to participate and provide public comments (this is different than doing so at a Regular Meeting of the Board).
• January 22: Vote on school boundary changes 

You can view recordings of all Board meetings on the FCPS You Tube channel. Information to participate in a public School Board meeting is found here.

This Wednesday, November 5, 7:00pm!

Show Up at my Community Engagement Summit to Fortify Public Education, Together!

Please join my Community Engagement Summit, which I’ve envisioned as a place for learning, connecting, and action. It is on Wednesday, November 5, from 7:00-8:30pm, at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna. Please register and provide information helpful for planning using this Google form. This Summit will be in-person only, to invest in person-to-person community-building. 

✅Make Your Voices Heard: Vote on Tuesday, November 4

Each November, Virginia residents vote and impact the future of schools and our communities. As such, I shared the importance of voter registration and civic engagement at the invitation of students with the South Lakes High School Young Democrats. These students care deeply about the future and are getting involved. This year, Virginians have shown up to the ballot box for early voting to elect the next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Delegates who will determine policies and budgets addressing public needs and interests. Election Day is November 4, and all people voting on the actual Election Day must show up at their assigned precincts. If you haven’t registered, you can opt for same-day registration and request a provisional ballot. Find your voter registration status and polling location at the Virginia Department of Elections website. Polls will be open from 6am-7pm. Every vote really does count, so please show up and make your voices heard!

School Board Updates and Recent Work

🪙Get the Money

At the October 9 public Regular Meeting of the Board, the Superintendent delivered what I said is a rudimentary report on financial planning. Missing from the report and presentation was analysis of what was learned from last year’s (spring) budget development work that resulted in the Board’s proposed budget not being fully funded. I delivered sober remarks, which you can watch at my YouTube channel.

“We are now living the results of the reduced $121 million, and I’m hearing from my constituents about destaffing and increased class sizes–thirty kindergarteners in a class. I don’t experience any urgency among our team of thirteen about approaching this year differently. Not in this report and not at our board meetings.”

🏫Where It’s At: Maintaining $8.7 billion in Public Facilities Assets 

I’ve been in elected office six years, and I continue to learn new things still about the policies, traditions, and funding of public facility assets in Fairfax County! The end of October had me sharing work that I began this summer, to prepare for the first meeting of the new Joint Facility Review Committee of the School Board and County Board of Supervisors. Compiling data about facilities owned and maintained by the two entities - plus the third land-owning entity in Fairfax, which is the Fairfax County Park Authority - is bringing forward new conversations that are essential to identify cost efficiencies and savings for every Fairfax County taxpayer dollar. 

At the October 23 public Board meeting, we adopted a revised Policy 8240, which expands the methods of procurement allowable for FCPS when seeking contracts for major capital projects. This is a huge advancement in efforts to maximize every dollar to save time and money! Too often projects were taking years and years, at increased costs and inconvenience to Fairfax residents. The Board’s Governance Committee led this work throughout the last year; I was a member last school year, and as Chair this year, I am thrilled that we passed this policy just after our first Committee meeting! More facilities policy reviews are forthcoming, in addition to working on other critical policy topics. Policy is my jam!    

Keep in mind that maximizing the space and funding of facility assets is a major reason for conducting the divisionwide boundary review. We don’t have the luxury of building new facilities in Fairfax, so maximizing our spaces is essential to providing the optimal learning spaces and working spaces that our students and staff need for success. 

⏰Update on K-12 School Start Times

Student health and safety is always a priority. However, while adjusting school times to support the developmental health needs of middle school students is a valid priority, the reality is that it is a huge operational undertaking - and it is not possible for the 2026-27 school year. 

Specifically, the adjustments require newly scheduling and aligning 7,000 bus routes covering 93,731 daily miles driven by 1,625 school buses. Changing start times not only impacts middle school students, the impacts will be across the entire school division. 

The School Board on October 23 publicly voted that the Superintendent postpone any divisionwide implementation of changes to school start times until no earlier than the 2027–28 school year to allow for the full implementation of the new transportation routing software and consideration of potential updates to school boundaries. The Superintendent is charged with presenting to the Board, no later than December 2026, a plan outlining viable options for healthy school start times that, where possible, are budget-neutral and minimize impacts on staff.

Families can support the developmental health of our students in these grades by continuing to promote healthy sleep habits at home, including reasonable bed times and limited screen time just before bed. Watch the full remarks on my YouTube channel.

County and Schools Working Together to Save Money on Facilities

The Joint Facility Review Committee has officially begun its work. The goal is for the County Board of Supervisors and the School Board to work collaboratively to identify cost savings and efficiencies among the agencies. I’ve been preparing for this meeting since the summer with my colleague Kyle McDaniel, At-Large School Board Member. We were able to present to the Supervisors with status information about FCPS’s facilities usage, and ideas for finding those efficiencies. I also underscored the importance of including the Fairfax County Park Service in this work, since in addition to the County and FCPS, it is a third land-owning entity in the County. I learned new information about the County’s Capital Bond program and strategy, and am eager to continue understanding more. 

The Committee has an established website, here, hosted by the County. The slides we spoke to about FCPS are here, under the Meeting Logistics, October 30 meeting. The County’s slides are here, and have helpful information about their approach to the Capital Improvement Plan and the General Obligation Bond program - that determines what’s on your ballot each November. 

Virginia Department of Education Shortchanges FCPS with Shifting and Inaccurate Testing Standards

Twice in 15 months, the Virginia Department of Education has hastily adjusted student testing standards, a move that jeopardizes the accurate recognition of our students' world-class achievement and seems designed to misrepresent the success of FCPS. This heavy focus on standardized scores penalizes high-performing divisions.

To ensure thoughtful and equitable implementation, FCPS recommends delaying implementation until the 2026-27 school year. To maintain fairness, the state should keep current cut scores for students who entered 9th grade in 2025-26 and earlier, preserving consistency for graduation credits. Furthermore, FCPS suggests counting an "Approaching" score as "pass/proficient" for both accountability and verified credit purposes while instruction adjusts. The State of Virginia must support our schools through these changes, and I will press our General Assembly members to help fix this problem.

Upcoming Public School Board Meetings

Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• Thur, Nov 13, 7pm - Regular Meeting
• New Western High School Programming
• Executive Limitations #10: Learning Environment and Relationship with Students

Committee Meetings (Gatehouse Administration Center)

• None

Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)

• Wed, Nov 12, 10am - All-Day Work Session
• Budget Fiscal Forecast
• Finalizing the Board’s Legislative Program (I’m the State Legislative Liaison)
• Discussion of all proposed boundary changes

Hunter Mill Happenings

🔬Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Hosts 40th Anniversary Celebration

Current students and families, faculty, and alumni celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology! I was delighted to join a student-led tour during the open house on October 25. I observed graduates from as recently as five years ago to as far back as the founding hug one another in hallways, reminisce about their time at TJ, share updates on life and career, and marvel at the upgraded renovation and instructional spaces.'

Our student guides showed us the Pacific Ocean lab where students aim to breed clown fish for future studies; and the neuroscience lab where a faculty member informed us about studies of fruit flies to provide insights about Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as a popular experiment students are currently undertaking to test whether their classmates are lying (😲). It was a highlight to see constituent, Dr. Kathlene Morrow, who is a fellow FCPS parent. She explained how TJ students are using college-level equipment for their studies. Indeed, a parent came up to her afterward to say that her TJ graduate was incredibly well prepared due to the rigorous education in TJ and FCPS.

From Classroom to Central Office and Back: Educator Returns to Teaching at Madison HS 🦅

Madison High School student, Julia Blinde, profiled English teacher, Colleen Eddy, who returned to teaching in the classroom after years as an administrator in FCPS. Previously, she served at Oakton High School as an assistant principal, and worked at Gatehouse as the K-12 coordinator for social studies. Now she’s back in the rhythm of teaching with students daily. Read the feature story on the Hawk Talk webpage.

🏈South Lakes High School Homecoming

In Reston, South Lakes High School began its festivities with the Homecoming Parade, where schools and organizations marched down the streets to showcase their school spirit as part of the South Lakes Pyramid. I grabbed a quick photo with Terraset Elementary School students, then marched with Langston Hughes Middle School students. The night ended with a hard fought victory for the football team, who pulled off a 24-21 victory against Oakton High School. This is public education!

Marshall Get2Green Team Showcases Work at State of our Schools

The Marshall High School Get2Green Team showcased work on their rain garden, which involved designing, research, planting native species, and composting. These students share a common interest in caring for the environment–a passion of mine as well. This is public education!

Come to Oakton Cougars Homecoming and Senior Night, Nov 7!

Mark you calendars! Oakton High School is hosting senior night on Friday, November 7, from 4:30-6:30pm. The event will feature the first ever Cougar Sendoff to celebrate seniors as they prepare to graduate next year. Enjoy food trucks, games, music, and more before the start of the homecoming game.

Engaging with Families at the Wolftrap PTA Monthly Meeting

The Wolftrap Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) welcomed me to their monthly meeting. It helped me to better understand the challenges and thoughts about pedestrian safety, proposed boundary changes, public school funding, and other topics. My daughter attended Wolftrap from K-6, and it remains a special place in my heart. The parent and family volunteers are as dedicated as ever to the school community, and I enjoyed connecting with the Principal, Dr. Maggie Grove, too.

👷Armstrong Elementary School Alumnus now Renovating the Campus

A former student and now father at Armstrong Elementary School now helps renovate the campus as a design and construction manager at Fairfax County Public Schools. Jordan Short graduated from Herndon High School in 2003 and works in construction like his father. Now his children see him working at their school. You can watch the video about his career and these renovations. This is public education!

🪔Fairfax County Celebrates Diwali, the Festival of Lights 🎆

October was Diwali month this year, which is celebrated by South Asian communities including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali commemorates the triumph of light over darkness, and it is attributed to mythic battles of the ancient past.

Kadhambari Sridhar, a Hunter Mill resident, performs at such celebrations with dance in the tradition of Kalakshetra-style Bharatanatyam, which emphasizes precision and geometry. Her stylework bridges classical Indian dance and contemporary community storytelling. Her performances draw from lived experiences in the South Asian diaspora, celebrating heritage, identity, and belonging through movement.

Come see her perform on November 13th at World Heritage Night from 6-8pm at Wolftrap Elementary School — an evening of cultural performances and global celebration you won’t want to miss! You can also follow her on Instagram at @movementwithk.

🏐17th Annual Dig Pink Volleyball Game Raises Money for Breast Cancer

South Lakes High School hosted the 17th annual Dig Pink volleyball game, where the Seahawks dominated with their strategic, powerful plays. The student athletes raise money and awareness about breast cancer prevention. I purchased a slew of raffle tickets and later won a fantastic pink-themed prize bag of goodies! I celebrated with a fellow mom friend, visiting to support her daughter on the Falls Church High School team playing South Lakes - she and I had our oldest children together in childcare, over a decade ago! This is public education! Connecting through the years through children’s lives.

🎭It’s Theatre Season in FCPS!

November is the big month for high school theatre productions. You can view all showtimes at the FCPS performing arts webpage. Be sure to catch a show!

Other Info of Interest

Nov 12: Join the Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) for its Annual Town Hall Meeting

The state-mandated Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is hosting its annual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 7-9pm at Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Room 1000B, in Fairfax.

This is your opportunity to share concerns, kudos, or ideas about special education in FCPS. Each speaker will have three minutes to offer their thoughts about students with disabilities and learning differences in the division. 

Virtual attendance is available, so please email ACSDChair@fcps.edu to request access.

Designing Schools for Every Learner at FCPS

Our school division designs schools thoughtfully for the learning needs of the students. As educational programs evolve, the design team goes back to the drawing board to determine how to renovate spaces in the best manner possible. Learn more about our design processes by watching this video.

🧑‍🏫Paid AVID Tutors Needed

Looking for a flexible and part-time position? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2025-2026 school year. Positions are available at Thoreau Middle School and other schools, too.

AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.

Tutors earn $21.13 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to AVID@fcps.edu.

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

E-mail: Melanie K. Meren |  Phone: 571-423-1082 | Facebook | YouTube

Staff Aide: Jacob Harrer | 571-310-9539