School Board Update
January 19, 2020
Arlington School Board
Email: school.board@apsva.us
Website: www.apsva.us
Location: 2110 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA, USA
Phone: 703-228-6015
Twitter: @APSVaSchoolBd
Agenda for the January 21, 2021 School Board Meeting
The agenda for the January 7 School Board Meeting is posted on BoardDocs at:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vpublic?open. Subject to change.
This meeting will take place virtually using Microsoft Teams. Meetings are available for viewing live on the APS website and broadcast on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FIOS Channel 41
A. CLOSED MEETING: NONE
B. REGULAR MEETING OPENING: 7 PM
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. CITIZEN COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA AND AGENDA ITEMS:
4. RECOGNITIONS:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Visual and Literary Arts Awards
POSSE Scholars
5. Announcements:
- January 23, 2021 School Board Retreat, 9 AM – 2 PM, Syphax Education Center Rms. 452-454-456
- January 25, 2021 Virtual Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 2 PM
- January 26, 2021 Virtual Closed Meeting, 6:30 PM
- January 28, 2021 Virtual Closed Meeting, 5:15 PM
6. Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates
C. CONSENT ITEMS:
1. Minutes
2. Personnel Actions
3. School and Community Relations Brief
4. Revisions to School Board Policy L-9 Accreditation of Schools
5. Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Transportation Choices
D. MONITORING ITEMS:
1. School Year 2020-2021 Update
E. ACTION ITEMS:
1 Middle School and High School Program of Studies
2. Summer School Fees
3. 2022 Capital Improvement Plan Direction
4. FY2020 Final Fiscal Closeout and Status Report
F. INFORMATION ITEMS:
1. 2021 School Moves Project Temporary Change to Project Funding
2. Revisions to School Board Policy M-8 Internet
G. INFORMATION/ACTION ITEMS:
1. Amendment to School Board Policy I-11.6.1 Locally Awarded Verified Credit
H. NEW BUSINESS:
I. ADJOURNMENT
Citizen Comment at School Board Meetings
If the Board receives more speaker requests than can be accommodated in one hour, 30 speakers will be randomly selected from all requests received and will be notified of their selection.
The Speaker Request Form posted at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/sign-up-to-speak/ is activated by Friday afternoon of the week prior to the Board meeting. The speaker form is active until Noon on the Tuesday before the Board meeting. The schedule of regular School Board meeting is posted at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/.
Superintendent's Weekly Update
The Superintendent will provide a School Year 2020-2021 Update as a Monitoring Item at all upcoming School Board meetings. Watch School Board meetings at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings/.
School Board Policies Available for Public Comment
Arlington Public Schools is soliciting comments until February 15 on the draft revision to the following policy:
Feedback should be provided through the APS Engage online feedback form. Please be sure to include the policy you are referencing in your correspondence. Or by submitting the corresponding policy questionnaire at https://www.apsva.us/engage/policies-for-revision-amendment/ under the Public Comment on Drafts section.
Advisory Committees that have opted into the Enhanced Feedback process for these policies may also submit a supplementary memo in addition to responding to the survey. The survey response should note that you have submitted a supplementary memo. The Supplementary memo is due the day the survey closes.
Board Member Update: Message from Monique O'Grady
I write this message with a heavy heart and want to share that after much thought, consultation with my family, and careful consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection to the Arlington School Board.
I feel strongly that I need to focus my last year on the school board, and more importantly my last six months as chair, dedicating my time and energy to working with my colleagues and our stellar superintendent, Dr. Durán, to reopen schools as safely as possible. We must return Arlington Public Schools to the strongest and safest new normal that can be achieved as we continue to mitigate the volatile pandemic. This will require my full and undivided attention.
We find ourselves in unprecedented times. Our health and safety have been affected by a global pandemic and political unrest. These turbulent times have also caused us to deeply examine systemic racism in our society and the impact it has had in many of our institutions, including our schools. This has caused our community to reexamine what we hold dear, who we are, and where we need to be for a better future for our students.
We are taking actions to support our students' educational progress and mental health, advance equity, and make sure we choose the safest option for moving forward as the Coronavirus continues to impact our daily lives.
Under a different time in history, I would not hesitate to seek re-election, because I believe strongly in public service, experience, and institutional knowledge. I would want nothing more than to continue to work with our phenomenal superintendent. However, I need to focus my attention on leading and working with my colleagues and supporting Dr. Durán on returning to in-person learning as safely as possible and pushing forward our equity work. This is especially important as we continue to address the impact that the pandemic has had on all our students, and in particular on those who our data shows are not progressing as well with distance learning.
As an elected member of the Arlington School Board and a parent who has dedicated 22 years to Arlington Public Schools, I will continue to firmly pursue progress in our school system and to work for a better future for all of our students throughout my term, which ends on December 31, 2021.
Sincerely,
Monique O’Grady
School Board Open Office Hours
Upcoming Open Office Hours:
Monday, January 25, 2021 with Cristina Diaz-Torres from 6-8 PM
Tuesday, February 2, 20221 with David Priddy, Time TBD
The schedule for Open Office Hours for the 2020-2021 school year is posted at https://www.apsva.us/contact-the-school-board/open-office-hours/.
Updates for the School Year 2020-2021
APS has the following information available for families:
- The APS COVID-19 webpage has the latest updates and new FAQs about instruction, technology, meals for students, family resources and more.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information: https://www.apsva.us/post/covid-19-vaccine-information/
Jan. 15 Dept. of Teaching and Learning Update: Services for English Learners, Special Education and Gifted Students: https://www.apsva.us/post/dec-15-dept-of-teaching-and-learning-update-services-for-english-learners-special-education-and-gifted-students/
APS Broadcasting WiFi Network Outside of Four Schools: https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-broadcasting-wifi-network-outside-of-four-schools/?utm_source=wifi&utm_campaign=f5oct9
APS COVID-19 Dashboard: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/aps-covid-19-dashboard/?utm_source=APS%20COVID%20Dashboard&utm_campaign=f5oct2
P-EBT Benefit Update for Families: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/pebt.cgi
APS to Launch Family Technology Call Center: https://parentacademy.apsva.us/
Explore Videos and Resources for Parents: https://parentacademy.apsva.us/
Comcast Internet Essentials Details: https://www.apsva.us/digital-learning/internet/
Food Resources from Arlington County: https://www.apsva.us/post/food-resources-from-arlington-county/
- Need assistance? See who to contact at https://www.apsva.us/post/who-to-contact-for-help/
Questions related to APS and the change in operations due to COVID-19 can be sent to engage@apsva.us