School Board Update
December 16, 2019
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 December 19, 2019 School Board Meeting
The agenda for the December 19 School Board Meeting is posted on BoardDocs at:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
A. CLOSED MEETING – 6 PM
B. REGULAR MEETING OPENING - 7 PM
1. Call to Order
2. Presentation of Colors: Arlington Career Center AF JROTC Cadets Corps
3. Recognitions: Holiday Music Performance – Yorktown Chorus
Virginia School Boards Association Awards
APS United Way Participation
4. Announcements:
- December 23, 2019 – January 3, 2020 – Winter Break for Students
5. Interim Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates
C. CONSENT ITEMS:
1. Minutes:
a. November 6, 2019 Capital Improvement Plan Planning Work Session
b. November 13, 2019 Work Session on Services for Students with Special Needs
c. November 25, 2019 Closed Meeting, School Board Selection Advisory Committee
d. December 9, 2019 Legislative Breakfast
2. Personnel Actions
3. Dorothy Hamm Middle School Change to Construction Manager Advisor Contract
4. Student Transfer Appeal SY20-08
D. CITIZEN COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
E. ACTION ITEMS:
1. Annual Summer School Report and Fees
F. INFORMATION ITEMS:
1. FY 2019 Final Fiscal Closeout/Status and CIP Quarterly Report
2. Amendments to Select School Board Policies
- School Board Policy J-5.3.1 Homeless Education Services
- School Board Policy I-10.30 Support for Students – Wellness
- School Board Policy I-7.2.3.34 Communication-Student Progress, Program, and Grading
G. NEW BUSINESS:
H. ADJOURNMENT
School Board Selects Firm to Assist with Superintendent Search
The School Board has selected BWP & Associates (BWP) to assist in the national search for a permanent superintendent. BWP is a national executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of top leadership positions in the education field.
The School Board selected BWP from three firms considered (four proposals were initially submitted) in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, based on its superintendent-placement track record, ability to find a diverse candidate pool and approach to community engagement, among other criteria set forth in the RFP.
“The School Board is committed to finding a highly-qualified leader and we look forward to partnering with BWP on the search process,” said School Board Chair Tannia Talento. “Appointing a new permanent superintendent is the School Board’s most important task, and we intend to engage in a search process that is transparent and inclusive of input from across the community.”
“During the coming weeks, we expect the search firm will meet with our community and gather stakeholder input in a variety of ways to help prioritize desired qualities and develop a profile for the permanent superintendent position,” said Talento. “This will guide the search process and result in the successful appointment of a leader who meets the needs of the Arlington school community and, most importantly, the needs of our students.”
Additional details regarding the search process and timeline are available on the APS Engage page. An update on next steps will be provided at the December 19th School Board meeting.
The selection of BWP for a fee of $45,000 followed an extensive RFP process. The executed Contract between APS and BWP is posted on the Procurement page here, as well as on the updated APS Engage page.
Elementary School Planning for 2021-22
In 2021, APS is projected to welcome more than 30,000 students, and will open a new elementary school and add high school seats.
On December 9, staff shared that they will be focusing on Proposal 1 which—if adopted by the Board—would do the following:
- Keep more McKinley students together, moving a majority of McKinley students together to Reed with the principal and members of the staff
- Allow boundaries that will maximize walking to neighborhood schools as much as possible and keep together more students from each school community
- Allow about 100 more students from the Arlington Traditional School (ATS) waitlist, including siblings, to enroll in ATS
- Place Immersion in a central location
- Create neighborhood seats in the high-growth Rosslyn-Courthouse area
There are several ways to get up to speed on this process, the challenges that APS faces, and these proposals to move schools:
- Visit the Engage page for detailed information, a timeline and FAQs
- Read a two-page Infographic in English or Spanish
- View a 5-minute video for an overview
- View a 30-minute Online Information Session that presents information and answers community questions (Spanish pending)
Proposal(s) may be revised as APS gathers ideas and suggestions from community members before School Board action on Feb. 6, 2020. Any changes made would take effect in Sept. 2021. To learn more, visit www.apsva.us/engage/planning-for-2020-elementary-school-boundary-process/.
Send questions via engage@apsva.us or Twitter at #APSPlans2021.
School Board Meeting
Agendas and background information for School Board meetings are posted on BoardDocs as they are available. Agendas are subject to change without notice and the public is encouraged to check the website in advance to confirm details or changes. School Board meetings can be viewed live online or on Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.
Visit the School Board Meetings web page for a listing of all upcoming meeting dates.
For additional information, contact the School Board Office at 703-228-6015 or school.board@apsva.us.
Thursday, Dec 19, 2019, 07:00 PM
2110 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA, USA
Open Office Hours with Barbara Kanninen
Monday, Jan 6, 2020, 05:00 PM
2110 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA, USA
School Board Meeting
Agendas and background information for School Board meetings are posted on BoardDocs as they are available. Agendas are subject to change without notice and the public is encouraged to check the website in advance to confirm details or changes. School Board meetings can be viewed live online or on Comcast Channel 70 or Verizon Channel 41.
Visit the School Board Meetings web page for a listing of all upcoming meeting dates.
For additional information, contact the School Board Office at 703-228-6015 or school.board@apsva.us.