Thank you to our facilities team and custodians — including Alex Bancayan at Annandale High School, pictured above — for working tirelessly to help our students and teachers get back into school buildings.
🏫 Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Presented to School Board
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented the Proposed FY 2027 Budget during last Thursday’s School Board meeting. This proposed budget reflects FCPS’ unwavering commitment to sustaining excellence for our students, staff, and community.
The top priorities of FCPS’ FY 2027 Proposed Budget include:
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Prioritizing competitive compensation for all employees. This includes funding the increases in the collective bargaining agreements for both our Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) and Fairfax County Federation of Principals, Supervisors, and Administrators (FCFPSA) bargaining units (see more below on FCFPSA below).
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Beginning to restore last fiscal year’s reductions by fully restoring Special Education Department Chair and Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) positions at non-Title I schools, as well as a partial restoration of class sizes in elementary, middle, and high schools.
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Continuing multiyear initiatives, including certified athletic trainers at each of our high schools, family liaisons, fine and performing arts stipends, student athletics and activity offerings, K-12 robotics, and educator math certification and credentialing.
View the budget presentation video and slides. Follow the budget process by watching the Tuesday, February 10, School Board work session or visiting FCPS’ Budget webpage.
📍 School Board Approves Proposed Boundary Changes
The School Board approved the recommended boundary changes, as part of FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review, at its meeting last Thursday. The adopted boundary adjustments currently affect nearly 1,700 students at 46 schools. These changes will be implemented starting in the 2026-27 school year. Read the boundary changes news story for additional details.
🤝 School Board Ratifies Collective Bargaining Agreement for Principals, Supervisors, and Administrators Bargaining Unit
Also at last Thursday’s meeting, the School Board unanimously ratified the tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between FCPS and the Fairfax County Federation of Principals, Supervisors, and Administrators (FCFPSA) with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Some highlights of the CBA are:
- 4% market scale adjustment (MSA) to salary scales and a step increase in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.
- 3% MSA and a step increase in FY 2028.
- An additional step at the top of all salary scales will be added in FY 2027 and FY 2028.
View the full bargaining agreement announcement.
Find Out Which Union Represents You!
FCPS employees are represented by two unions:
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Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) — As of July 2024, FEU is the exclusive representative for all licensed instructional and operational employees.
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Fairfax County Federation of Principals, Supervisors, and Administrators (FCFPSA) — This union represents all principals, associate and assistant principals, directors of student activities, directors of student services, and administrators.
To determine which bargaining unit represents you:
- Log in to UConnect.
- Click Employee Self-Service > Employment > Multiple Jobs/Position.
- Click on your job title to view the Detail section, where your bargaining unit is listed in the first column.
The FCPS Office of Labor Relations provides union resources on the Atlas and the FCPS Collective Bargaining webpage to help you understand how it affects your role. You may also contact LaborRelations@fcps.edu with any questions.
🚌 Reid Reflects: Transportation Safety and Technology
In the Strategic Plan Update portion of last Thursday’s School Board meeting, Dr. Reid discussed Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered, with an emphasis on transportation safety and technology.
She shared a video, which discusses how technology and our staff members keep students safe, supported, and connected while on our buses. Read more about transportation safety in Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
Internal Transfer Window Open for Western High School Positions
The Office of Talent Acquisition and Management is launching an internal-only transfer window for the new western high school. It is open through Friday, February 6.
This early opportunity supports efficient staffing for the new school while ensuring that employees who are not selected remain eligible to participate in the divisionwide voluntary transfer window, which opens on Monday, February 9.
View open positions on the FCPS School-Specific Vacancy list. Review the guidelines for applying to the new high school and how to apply on Atlas.
Leave of Absence Application Due March 1
Employees who intend to request or extend a Leave of Absence (LOA) for the upcoming 2026-27 school year must indicate their intentions by Sunday, March 1.
An LOA is an approved, unpaid, extended absence from work that exceeds 30 calendar days. Additional information about LOA eligibility and the application process can be found on the Leaves of Absence (LOA) page on Atlas.
For questions and more information, please contact the Disability and Leaves team through FCPS StaffConnect or by phone at 571-423-3200, and select Option 2.
Transforming Vision into Action: Inspiring and Leading Leadership
As the senior manager of the John Lewis Leadership Program (LLP), Deborah March took the inspiration of a name change and turned it into a living legacy for the students and staff at John R. Lewis High School.
Recognizing her work as manager of LLP, Deborah was named FCPS’ Outstanding Nonschool-Based Professional Employee last year. Read more about her journey with the leadership program.
🚨 Raptor MyPDE Training Due February 4
Safety and security for school staff is being enhanced through a new emergency management system. Impacted staff have been assigned a mandatory training in MyPDE to learn more about the wearable Emergency Response Buttons. The 15-minute training is due no later than Wednesday, February 4.
All FCPS staff will be notified the day before the system goes live and becomes fully operational. Learn more about the emergency management system on the Raptor Atlas page. Submit questions online to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.
❤️ Employee Blood Drive
The Office of Facilities Management is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, February 18, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Sideburn Support Center. Register to donate. Free breakfast will be available for all who donate.
💚 Confidential Support Is Available through the Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), through ComPsych GuidanceResources, offers confidential, no-cost support to employees and their household members to help navigate life’s challenges.
- Access up to six free counseling sessions per mental health challenge, per year for concerns such as stress, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.
- Confidential support is available 24/7, by phone, virtually, and in person.
Access services by:
- Calling 855-355-9097
- Visiting the GuidanceResources website. When registering online, enter Web ID: FCPS.
- Using the GuidanceNowSM app.
For information on additional EAP resources, including work-life support, legal and financial guidance, and digital self-care tools to support overall well-being, view the EAP resource flyer on Atlas.
Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!
Ombuds staff engage with FCPS staff, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements involving employees in the workplace or between parents and schools. Ombuds staff do not make or change decisions, policies, or regulations; they do not take sides; and they do not provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may submit a question.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Staff Development/Teacher Work Days
Schools are closed for students on Thursday, January 29, for a staff development day, and Friday, January 30, for a teacher workday.
The staff development day has been converted to be virtual where possible for those who still cannot travel safely on Thursday. Teacher-scale employees may work from an alternate location on Friday.
End of the Quarter
Due to the recent loss of instructional days, the final day of the second quarter has been moved to Tuesday, February 3. If necessary, teachers may continue to give second quarter assessments until February 3. Teachers should use Schoology to communicate these specific changes with students and families.
- Students in semester courses will continue to attend first semester classes through Tuesday, February 3.
- The grade posting window (which currently ends on Wednesday, February 4) will be extended to Friday, February 6.
See the complete school year calendar or employee calendar.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a connection to the FCPS network. If you have any questions, please visit the FCPS Tech Support Portal to search for self help articles or submit a ticket.
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Thank you!
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