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Dear Fairfax County Community,
Last night, we welcomed our newest board member, Tom Dannan, who has filled the vacant Braddock District seat on the board. I am excited to work with him on delivering for Braddock and all of our FCPS students and families. You can learn more about Tom here.
💵 Budget Update
I'm pleased to share that I've been appointed to fill the vacancy of Vice Chair on the School Board's Budget Committee. At a time when FCPS is navigating some of the most difficult budget years in recent memory, I'm committed to making sure our fiscal decisions reflect our values and protect our classrooms.
At last night's meeting, the Board also passed a proclamation recognizing Fairfax County's triple-A bond rating, and it's worth taking a moment to explain why that matters. Fairfax County is one of only 53 counties in the entire country to hold the highest possible bond rating from all three major credit agencies: Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch. That means when we borrow money to build and renovate schools, we get a better interest rate than almost any other local government in America. A recent $400 million bond sale secured an interest rate of 3.57%, compared to a national average of 4.28% for similar bonds. Since 1975, that rating has saved Fairfax County taxpayers more than $1.06 billion in borrowing costs. Protecting that rating is something I take seriously as I step into this new role.
🏟️ Naming Rights for FCPS Athletic Facilities
I along with Mr. Dunne from the Mount Vernon are carrying a motion in new business directing the Superintendent to develop a plan to explore naming rights opportunities for FCPS athletic facilities. School systems around the country use naming rights agreements to generate revenue for facility maintenance and improvement. With a $400 million maintenance backlog across our school buildings, we have an obligation to look at every available tool to get our students and staff into facilities that meet the standard they deserve. This motion simply directs the Superintendent to come back to the Board with a proposal. I look forward to seeing what that looks like and working with community partners to make it happen. This item is scheduled for action on March 26th.
📆 A Note on the School Calendar
Several of you have reached out about the school calendar process, and I want to be straightforward about where I stand. I believe the best practice is for the Superintendent to generate the calendar within a policy framework. I also believe we need to stick with a calendar that gives parents and families plenty of lead time for planning; in my view, this means a two-year rolling calendar. I recognize the concerns about the number of partial weeks in the 25-26 calendar, but I would not support changes to 26-27 or 27-28 calendar at this time. If the Superintendent were to bring changes to the 28-29 calendar later this year, I would be very open to prioritizing more 5 day weeks and working with the community to achieve that goal.
🔎 School Spotlight: Mount Eagle ES
Tucked along North Kings Highway in Alexandria, Mount Eagle Elementary has been a fixture of this community since 1949, making it one of the older schools in FCPS. What started as a four-room cinderblock building with 120 students has grown into a thriving school community that today serves over 300 students from pre-K through 6th grade.
I was able to visit Mount Eagle eariler this week and I was impressed with how well they support and have integrated into their community. A fun fact about Mount Eagle is that their mascot was designed by DC artist Dave Peterson (aka branddave)!
🚶🏼♂️Kyle in the Community
Earlier this week, I also got to visit Bush Hill ES. Go Panthers!
Last week, I got a great tour of Waples Mill ES from some great student ambassadors. Go Eagles!
Thank you for your continued engagement and partnership.
Sincerely,
Kyle McDaniel
Fairfax County School Board
Member, At-Large
Other Updates
‼️ April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.
✍️ Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year
As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Families have until Friday, March 27, to review and acknowledge course requests via this new feature.
Visit the FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage for more instructions and screenshots of this process.
🫱🏻🫲🏾 2026 Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
🗣️ County Seeking Budget Input
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. They are currently reviewing the county’s 2027 Fiscal Year Advertised Budget and are considering possible adjustments before the final county budget is adopted in May. Provide the county with feedback on how you would like your tax dollars spent by completing this survey.
🏆 2026 Awards Recognizing Special Education Supporters
Nominations are open for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Awards, which recognize educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support students receiving special education services. The annual program celebrates individuals across Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, support, and student success.
Honorees may include teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers, and other community members who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families. Nominations are open through Friday, March 27, and can be submitted online.
Award recipients will be recognized at the SEPTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, where families, educators, and community members will gather to celebrate those helping build more inclusive and supportive school communities. Registration details for the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
🎙️ Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
📰 FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Board Adopts Budget
- New Date for Special Education Conference
- Celebrating Our Schools
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Calendar Reminder
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🌙 /🪻Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (evening only observance day, holiday) Thursday, March 19: An evening only observance day for Eid al-Fitr, which begins at sundown.
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🌙 /🪻Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz (evening only observance day, holiday) Friday, March 20: A holiday and all schools and offices are closed for Eid and Nowruz.
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📆 Quarter End/Early Release - Friday, March 27, is the last day of the third quarter and early release for students.
- 🗳️ Election Day - Tuesday, April 21 - No school for students for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
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See the complete school year calendar.
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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