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Dear Community Members,
The 2026-27 school year is launching! Lots of information is in the mix as FCPS, schools, and classroom educators look to communicate what’s ahead. In this newsletter I share my work priorities for the new year, recap Board work from the summer leading into fall, and celebrate the opening of our incredible public school system.
Melanie’s priorities this year
This year I’ll work on, truly, dozens of policy and programmatic topics so I can do my job to hold the Superintendent accountable for providing excellent educational opportunities for students via a steadfast workforce of educators and professionals. However, among the work, three topics will be my priorities at the Board table and in the community:
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Protect Children. Children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth and safety are the first and most essential aspects of learning. Children must be protected from and prepared to avoid threats, especially in digital spaces and when travelling to and from school. I will press for more online safety education to be included in digital literacy instruction. I also continue advocating to restore funding for high school crossing guards, whose absence this school year is painfully clear during student arrival and dismissal. As you see dangerous traffic situations at high schools, including South Lakes, please take a moment to share this content widely. Elevating awareness is critical. More information to come about advocating further.
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Articulate the intentional use of technology in instruction. Educators must be able to articulate why any device or digital application used with or by students contributes to students’ successful learning, especially with the youngest children. Further, FCPS has a duty to teach students to be adept and savvy users of appropriate technology, be ready for a workforce where technology will bring opportunities yet unknown, and to maintain humanity in society. The School Board must set policy directives for the Superintendent to support educators in this vital work.
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Stewarding public facilities school assets to best serve students, FCPS employees, and the public. Too many FCPS facilities have reached their useful life capacity, and traditionally available funds cannot cover this. It is now an annual trend that operating costs meant to fund students’ instruction are instead paying for emergency repairs of basic building components like HVAC systems and roofs. This is a problem that requires a combined solution with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the state General Assembly.
Welcome to School!
I join the thousands of FCPS families sending their precious children to school! These are big times! Please view my back-to-school video for my brief message and best wishes!
Melanie’s and Board’s Work from Summer into Fall
Before the Board recessed from public meetings in mid-July, we deliberated and acted on several important topics:
- Educational technology, digital literacy, and AI*
- Skyview High School’s boundary and related County housing projections that impact projected school membership, which I am tracking closely
- Math textbooks for secondary grades
- School year calendars established, with more five-day weeks
- Annual School Board leadership and committee assignments
Read more in my July 23 newsletter, here.
*Regarding ed tech, digital literacy, and AI, I want to summarize this for you:
Reflecting on the work since January, and reviewing a host of communications and information from the school division leading up to this launch of the new year, I am concerned about the way digital learning is progressing in the absence of a Board-established policy on the matter. The Superintendent has said repeatedly that she is awaiting Board policy to implement further work; however, I am seeing vaguely-described initiatives and activities beginning this school year. I’ve also seen the new Educational Technology Review Committee advisory group to the Superintendent become a holding-space for important decisions, that not only delay those deliberations but also sideline the Board and Superintendent from their central roles in grappling with this work publicly.
School Board Updates and Recent Work
The Board held its first public meeting of the school year, a public Work Session, on August 18. Two topics were discussed: digital literacy and middle school afterschool programs.
Please find the digital literacy materials here, and see my related remarks above on this subject.
Regarding middle school afterschool programs: the Middle School Afterschool Program (MSASP) is a youth gang prevention program that until last year had been funded by Fairfax County Government as a health and human services initiative. The program is provided in FCPS facilities, funded by non-FCPS dollars from the County. In the last two budget cycles, the County moved the responsibility of payment to FCPS. I disagreed with the way this transfer of programming has been handled.
Nonetheless, FCPS will likely face the option of continuing to fund the program from our own budget, or cutting the funding. The way I see it, knowing this, FCPS has taken some steps to try to mitigate the lack of services that may befall our middle school students. This includes increasing opportunities for FCPS-provided afterschool athletics. In just a few years the middle school fall cross country and spring track seasons have been popular and well attended; now, the Superintendent proposes to add more options for non-competitive but skill-building athletic experiences, particularly in volleyball.
Further, the School Board is (again) taking up adjusting school start times to address the very early middle school start time. Such changes, to be made in the near future but not this school year, would, I think, also help ease the pressure to offer a plethora of middle school afterschool activities if schools conclude later than currently.
Also, this summer I had the opportunity for some professional development of my own, to learn about military careers and the recruitment process used by the U.S. Marine Corps. I traveled to San Diego for the weeklong Educators Workshop, which helps teachers, counselors, and administrators understand military service and what it can offer to youth.
My District Director (the senior staffer of my two staff members), is a retired U.S. Marine. He served as a recruiter and public affairs representative who managed the program, so he worked with his veteran network to secure a seat for me, which was fully funded.
I learned that there are tough physical and mental standards for Marines, a tightknight culture, numerous educational and career benefits, and many technical and specialized training opportunities that translate into job opportunities after service. I also participated in the Marine Combat Fitness test, observed a brass quintet from the band, and had lunch with new Marines after completing the grueling 54-hour Crucible.
Thank you to the many active duty and retired members of the Armed Services within Fairfax County. I have a deeper understanding of what it means to serve our country.
Upcoming Public School Board Meetings
Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, August 27, 7pm - Regular Meeting
- Thursday, September 10, 7pm - Regular Meeting
Committee Meetings (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, September 1, 4:30pm - Public Engagement Committee
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, September 8, 10:30am
To find the current School Board calendar and agenda, please visit the FCPS School Board Meetings website.
Hunter Mill Happenings
Welcome Jennifer Condra as the new Principal of Vienna ES!
With over 25 years of experience in education—including 14 years as assistant principal right down the road at Louise Archer—and deep roots as a local Vienna parent, Mrs. Jennifer Condra brings incredible expertise, heart, and dedication to our school community.
Mrs. Condra officially stepped into her new role on August 11th, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Vienna Elementary family. We wish Mrs. Condra all the best as she begins this exciting new chapter of leadership at Vienna Elementary.
Welcome Elizabeth Baxter as the new Principal of Terraset ES!
With 18 years of experience in Fairfax County Public Schools—most recently serving as assistant principal at Herndon Elementary—and deep roots as an FCPS graduate who began her career in the Reston area, Ms. Elizabeth Baxter brings exceptional expertise, heart, and dedication to our school community.
Ms. Baxter officially stepped into her new role on August 24th, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Terraset Elementary family. We wish Ms. Baxter all the best as she begins this exciting new chapter of leadership at Terraset Elementary!
Skyview Aviators Are Ready for Takeoff!
Clear skies ahead as we officially celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Skyview High School!
From marching band performances and helicopter landings to Star Wars droids, our Aviators had an incredible First Flight. Our students are clear for departure toward amazing achievements in science and innovation.
The journey starts now—soar high, Skyview High School!
Other Info of Interest
Apply to Serve on a School Board Advisory Committee
The Fairfax County School Board Student Representative is seeking applications from students interested in serving a one-year appointment to one of the Community Advisory Committees. The Community Advisory Committees represent the concerns of parents, students, and other stakeholders, which can help inform and shape Fairfax County Public School programming and resources.
Committee members should expect to meet once a month, often in the evenings. Members will be committing to a one-year term, which runs from August 1 to July 31, with the possibility of renewal for most committees.
To apply to one of the seven Fairfax County School Board Advisory Committees as a student appointee, please complete this Google form. For more information, you can contact Newt Shosteck, Student Representative to the School Board.
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You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home
In FCPS we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.
In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.
With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.
These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
Follow FCPS on WhatsApp
Is WhatsApp one of the ways you stay connected with family, friends, and your community? Now you can use it to stay connected with FCPS, too.
Follow the new FCPS WhatsApp Channel for helpful information and reminders throughout the school year, including important announcements, upcoming dates, tips for families, and more.
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
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