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Meeting Recap: Capital Improvement, Naming New Western High School, and More (February 12, 2026)
Dear Neighbor,
Last week, the Fairfax County School Board held an all-day work session on Tuesday, February 10 (agenda | video), and a regular meeting on Thursday, February 12 (agenda | video). We discussed and advanced several key priorities that reflect our continued commitment to academic excellence, equity, and innovation across the school division.
At our all-day work session, the Board examined proposed revisions to Policy 8542 on Environmental Stewardship and discussed long-term capital planning considerations to ensure our facilities remain safe, efficient, and aligned with student needs. We also received updates on the division’s measured approach to the use of Artificial Intelligence. The Superintendent also reviewed the proposed FY 2027 budget, with a focus on competitive compensation, classroom supports, and long-term fiscal sustainability in a challenging funding environment.
At our regular meeting, the Board voted to name our new western high school Skyview High School — the first new FCPS high school to open in nearly two decades — following an extensive community engagement process that included two public comment periods, multiple community meetings, and a divisionwide survey. We also reviewed the proposed Capital Improvement Program for financial years 2027-31, outlining more than $1 billion in planned investments to modernize facilities, address enrollment shifts, and ensure safe, high-quality learning environments. The Board also received the Superintendent’s monitoring report on Financial Administration (EL-6) and adopted several proclamations.
As always, I invite you to learn more about the various topics discussed during these meetings by reviewing the updates below. You are also welcome to attend School Board meetings (schedule) and register to share your thoughts with us during community participation (sign-up).
In service,
Karl Frisch
Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
Table of Contents:
All-Day Work Session Recap (February 10, 2026)
At last week’s all-day School Board work session, we discussed several priorities guiding the school division’s long-term planning. The morning session focused on discussions around environmental stewardship and artificial intelligence, while the afternoon centered on the proposed budget.
Environmental Stewardship
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board held a work session on proposed updates to Policy 8542: Environmental Stewardship, which establishes FCPS’s commitment to sustainability, energy conservation, and responsible resource management. Originally adopted in 2008 and updated in 2013, the policy outlines goals related to carbon reduction, water conservation, waste reduction, indoor and outdoor air quality, transportation electrification, and long-term alignment with the Board’s Joint Environmental Task (JET) commitments. Staff reviewed the policy’s updated philosophy statement, reaffirming the division’s commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint while balancing fiscal responsibility and operational realities. The discussion also focused on implementation impacts, including the transition to Green Globes certification to meet updated requirements under Virginia’s High-Performance Buildings Act (HB2001), and the implications of incorporating Net Zero Energy (NZE) Ready design standards into capital projects.
Artificial Intelligence
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board received a presentation on the school division’s approach to Artificial Intelligence and AI literacy, grounded in the framework outlined in Learning in the Age of AI: The FCPS Approach to Safe & Ethical Use of AI. The Superintendent emphasized that FCPS is taking a deliberate, research-based approach that centers human judgment, ethical responsibility, and instructional purpose. She explained that rather than rushing into widespread tool adoption, the division is building systemwide capacity through guiding principles that prioritize keeping humans in control of decisions, leveraging technology responsibly, and intentionally enhancing emerging tools. The presentation reinforced that AI should strengthen — not replace — the core practices of the FCPS Learning Model and the Portrait of a Graduate, ensuring that creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, resilience, and ethical citizenship remain central to student learning..
Proposed Budget (Financial Year 2027)
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board received a detailed overview of the Superintendent’s FY 2027 Proposed Budget, a $4.1 billion spending plan focused on sustaining excellence while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The proposal reflects a net increase of $197.0 million, or 5.0%, over the FY 2026 Approved Budget, with a requested county transfer increase of $138.4 million (5.1%). Notably, the requested county transfer increase 48% less than last year’s request, demonstrating a more measured approach while still prioritizing core investments.
The majority of new funding supports compensation and benefits ($178.4 million), reinforcing the division’s commitment to remaining competitive in the regional market and sustaining retention rates above 90%. The proposal also includes targeted baseline adjustments and multiyear investments, including partial class-size restoration, special education department chair restoration, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher restoration, family liaison conversions, student activities and athletics support, fine and performing arts stipends, robotics, and math credentialing. The work session also highlighted areas that could benefit from additional future investment — including class-size restoration, elementary STEM, inclusive PreK expansion, world language expansion, and major maintenance — as the Board continues its budget deliberations ahead of adoption later this month.
Regular Meeting Recap (February 12, 2026)
New Western High School Name: Skyview High School
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board voted to name the school division’s new western high school, Skyview High School, which was also the top choice of students. The naming decision follows an extensive public engagement process that began in October and included two public comment periods, multiple community meetings, public hearings, and a community survey. More than 6,000 name suggestions were submitted, reviewed, and considered before the Superintendent narrowed the recommendations and presented finalists to the Board.
The school represents the first new FCPS high school in nearly two decades. While it is a significant investment, the purchase saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The naming process reflected robust community participation and thoughtful consideration of local identity and values. With the name now selected, planning continues as FCPS prepares to open Skyview High School and welcome its first class of students next year.
Here is a video of my brief remarks on the new name (including one of the more humorous options submitted for consideration):
Proposed Capital Improvement Program (Financial Years 2027-31)
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board approved the proposed FY 2027–31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which outlines the division’s five-year plan to manage, modernize, and construct school facilities across Fairfax County. As detailed in the presentation, FCPS currently maintains more than 200 buildings totaling approximately 29 million square feet and nearly $8.9 billion in assets. The proposed CIP reflects updated enrollment projections, construction cost estimates, and recent actions, while continuing major renovations, new construction, and capacity enhancements to ensure safe, modern learning environments for students.
The five-year requirement totals approximately $1.1 billion, with funding assumptions based on the county’s annual bond capacity of $230 million and projected additional needs over the ten-year horizon. The CIP also accounts for updated cash flow modeling, project escalations, and long-term enrollment trends, ensuring responsible fiscal planning while maintaining the Board’s commitment to safe, high-quality facilities that support student learning and community use.
Motion: Dunne, Second: Meren / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Absent 1
Superintendent Performance Review: Financial Administration (EL-6)
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board evaluates the Superintendent’s overall success based on the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan goals and adherence to the 13 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 comply with the Executive Limitation. If the report is found to be noncompliant, the Superintendent provides a corrective action memo addressing the Board’s concerns.
The Board received the Superintendent’s monitoring report on Executive Limitation 6: Financial Administration, which addresses the school division’s responsibility to safeguard its long-term financial health, maintain strong internal controls, and ensure that expenditures remain within projected revenues and aligned with the Strategic Plan. The Superintendent affirmed that FCPS continues to operate in compliance with Board policy and state and federal requirements, highlighting strengthened procurement guidance, enhanced internal controls in areas such as ACH/EFT payments and Positive Pay fraud prevention, expanded grant monitoring to ensure timely reimbursements, and continued adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards. The report also detailed ongoing efforts to maintain healthy reserves, conduct monthly reconciliations, ensure timely payroll and vendor payments, and provide transparent public reporting through the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Quarterly Budget Reviews, and the Transparency Portal.
In addition, the Superintendent emphasized the Division’s clean external audit opinion for FY 2025, national recognition for excellence in financial reporting, and continued coordination with the Office of the Auditor General and independent third-party auditors to ensure rigorous oversight of all funds. The monitoring report further outlined updates to financial regulations and policies, improvements to year-end closeout processes, and strengthened systems to prevent material deviations from the adopted budget. After review and discussion, the Board found that the monitoring report was in compliance with EL-6.
Motion: Dixit, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 9, No 0, Absent 2
Academic Matters: Back to Fairfax
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent’s Academic Matters presentation highlighted the “Back to Fairfax” initiative — a Grow Your Own strategy designed to create strong career pathways for FCPS students and alumni. The initiative aligns closely with Career and Technical Education (CTE), work-based learning, job shadowing, and internships to build early career awareness and prepare students for future employment within FCPS. Through programs such as Teachers 4 Tomorrow, Trades 4 Tomorrow, and Technology 4 Tomorrow, students gain meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world careers in education, skilled trades, and information technology.
The presentation also spotlighted expanded internship and workforce development efforts, including the Food & Nutrition Job Shadow Program and paid HR Summer Internships, which provide professional development, mentoring, and placement opportunities across multiple departments. These experiences help students explore career options, develop essential workplace skills, and envision futures in public service. Together, these programs strengthen the division’s long-term workforce pipeline and reinforce the Strategic Plan’s commitment to innovation, opportunity, and preparing students for success beyond graduation.
As part of her presentation, the Superintendent shared the following video with the Board:
Strategic Plan Update: Information Technology
Video | Meeting Materials
The Superintendent’s Strategic Plan update highlighted the FCPS Information Technology Office’s work supporting instruction, safety, and family engagement. The division manages more than 100 IT systems, reviews nearly 1,100 educational technology tools for privacy and security, and supports hundreds of thousands of helpdesk requests each year. Families are increasingly connected through weekly Lightspeed Parent Reports, which reach over 300,000 households, the FCPS mobile app with more than 7,000 downloads and multilingual access, expanded online registration, and a growing digital consent system..
As part of her presentation, the Superintendent shared the following video with the Board:
Proclamation: Black History Month
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board recognized February 2026 as Black History Month, honoring, celebrating, and reflecting upon the historic and ongoing contributions of Black Americans to our nation’s social, cultural, educational, economic, and political life. This year’s national theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” marks the 100th anniversary of the observance founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and underscores the importance of ensuring Black history is honored, taught, and valued as an essential part of the American story.
Motion: Dixit, Second: St John-Cunning / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Absent 1
Proclamation: School Counseling Appreciation Week
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board recognized February 2–6, 2026, as School Counseling Week, honoring the essential role that school counselors, directors of student services, and college and career specialists play in preparing students to become lifelong learners and productive members of a global society. This year’s theme, “School Counselors Amplify Student Success,” highlights the profound impact these dedicated professionals have in supporting students’ academic achievement, social-emotional wellness, and college and career readiness.
Motion: Dunne, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Absent 1
Proclamation: Career and Technical Education, Disability Employment, and Adult Community Education Appreciation Month
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board recognized February 2026 as Career and Technical Education, Disability Employment, and Adult and Continuing Education Appreciation Month, celebrating the extraordinary impact these programs have across the school division. With 160 CTE courses offered across business, information technology, health and medical sciences, JROTC, marketing, technology and engineering education, trade and industry, and family and consumer sciences, more than 65,000 students are gaining the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workforce, military, and higher education. The proclamation also highlights the vital role of programs such as the Davis and Pulley Career Centers in preparing students with disabilities for life after high school through workplace readiness, independent living skills, and partnerships with Northern Virginia businesses.
Motion: Frisch, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Absent 1
Virginia High School League, Academic Team, and FCPS Middle School Sports Recognitions
Video | Meeting Materials
The Board recognized outstanding student-athletes for their achievements in Fall 2025 competitions, including teams serving many Providence District students. I was especially proud to highlight the Oakton High School Girls Flag Football Team, which earned the Fall 2025 FCPS Championship, and the Frost Middle School Girls Cross Country Team, which captured the Fall 2025 FCPS Middle School championship title. These accomplishments reflect the hard work, discipline, and teamwork of our student-athletes and coaches, and they showcase the strength of Providence District schools in fostering excellence both on the field and in our school communities.
 
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 other relevant information. Here is a video of my short update:
Student Performance of the National Anthem
The Board meeting began with a beautiful performance of the national anthem and Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing by the Daniels Run Elementary Singers, under the direction of Michelle McCarten.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Regular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 11:30 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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