School Board Update
May 18, 2021
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 MAY 20, 2021 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
The agenda for the May 6 School Board Public Hearing is posted on BoardDocs at:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vpublic?open. Subject to change.
The regular School Board Meetings will be conducted in-person, with strictly limited attendance. (Work sessions and other meetings will continue to be held virtually.)
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 - 6 PM
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:
Employee Appreciation Month – All Staff Recognition
APS Service Awards
5. Announcements:
- May 27, 2021 Virtual Closed Meeting, 5:15 PM
- June 1, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting, 6 PM
· School Board FY 2022-2024 CIP Calendar (Work Sessions begin at 6 PM unless otherwise noted)
- May 25, 2021, CIP work session #2
- June 9, 2021 Joint Virtual CIP Work Session #3 with the County Board, 4 – 6 PM
- June 10, 2021, Public Hearing on the CIP (Board room)
- June 14, 2021, CIP work session #4, 7 PM
- June 24, 2021, School Board adoption of the APS FY 2022-2024 CIP (Board room)
6. Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates
C. CONSENT ITEMS:
1. Minutes
2. Personnel Actions
3. Revisions to School Board Policy I-1.35 Resources
4. Revisions to School Board Policy I-9.1 Selection of Textbooks and Other Instructional Materials
D. MONITORING ITEMS:
1. School Year 2020-2021 Update
2. Equity and Excellence Update
E. ACTION ITEMS:
1. Virginia School Boards Association Legislative Positions
2. Retirement of School Board Policy I-7.2.5.31 Support, Resources, and Extended Time
F. INFORMATION ITEMS:
1. Proposed Name for the Spanish Immersion School at the ATS site
2. Proposed Revisions to School Board Policy I-7.2.8 Instructional Delivery Options
3. Syphax Education Center Internal Modifications
G. NEW BUSINESS:
H. ADJOURNMENT
Citizen Comment at School Board Meetings
In order to meet safely, the Board will take all necessary steps to protect the community, staff, and Board members as they conduct public business. This includes adjusting meeting procedures to comply with health and safety guidelines. For the in-person School Board meetings, Public Comment on Agenda and Non-Agenda items will continue to be heard at the beginning of the meeting and will be limited to 1 hour.
At each meeting, the Board will hear from a maximum of 30 speakers and each speaker will have up to 2 minutes to comment. A maximum of 15 speakers will be allowed to comment in person and the remaining slots will be given to call-in speakers. All speakers must sign up in advance and indicate whether they want to speak in person or to call into the meeting. A lottery process will continue to be used to select speakers if more requests than available slots are received.
The School Board expects that each speaker will be courteous, modeling for students how one can respectfully disagree with others’ views. Speakers will address their comments to the entire School Board and not to individual Board members, the Superintendent, staff members, or the audience.
The Board will continue to refine plans going forward to allow as much public participation in meetings as possible, and appreciates the community’s patience as procedures are adjusted. Additional information will be posted at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/sign-up-to-speak/
Superintendent's Weekly Update
The Superintendent provides a School Year 2020-2021 Update as a Monitoring Item at all School Board meetings. Watch School Board meetings at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings/.
School Board Now Accepting Applications for the ACI, BAC, and FAC Committees for the 2021-22 School Year
The Arlington School Board values input from parents and members of the community as part of the APS decision-making process. That is why the school system has established a network of volunteer advisory committees, each one focusing on a specific subject or topic area from instruction to construction.
The Board is currently seeking individuals to serve as members of School Board advisory councils, including the Advisory Council on Teaching & Learning (ACTL) (formerly ACI), the Budget Advisory Council and the Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs for the 2021-22 School Year. Information about all APS advisory groups and applications for the groups can be found on the APS website.
The Board will appoint new members to two-year terms to fill any vacancies on these Councils. For more information, contact the School Board office at 703-228-6015.
Share Your Comments on Draft School Board Policies
Review and comment on draft APS policies that are available for public comment on the APS Engage website. Comments can be provided by June 15 on the following draft policies:
- I-7.4.1.31 Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
- I-7.4.1.33 Addition or Removal of Sports Teams
- J-5.4 Leaving School Grounds
- J-6.3.6 Prohibited Substances
- J-6.7 Student Searches and Confiscation of Student Property
- J-7.4 Student Code of Conduct
- K-7.3 No Smoking
- M-1 Serious Incident Reports
Free Vaccine Clinics for Children 12-17
A Month of Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day? Let’s Roll with It!
Understanding the New Virginia Math Pathways Initiative
The Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI) is a joint initiative among the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The Initiative supports the Profile of a Virginia Graduate by redefining mathematics pathways for students in the Commonwealth to address the knowledge, skills, experiences, and attributes that students must attain to be successful in college and/or the workforce and to be “life ready.”
Through collaboration with other stakeholders across the Commonwealth, the VMPI state task force will make suggestions for institutional changes that will strengthen the alignment between K-12 and higher education mathematics while ensuring that students are better prepared for college and career success.
The VDOE is inviting families to attend upcoming information sessions to learn more about VMPI. Participation in these sessions will help the VDOE, and ultimately APS, redefine math course options. Tune in to the VDOE YouTube channel at 6:30 p.m. on the date below to participate:
- Tuesday, May 25 – Advanced Pathways in grades 11 – 12
Help Choose Arlington’s Next Logo
The Joint Facilities Advisory Commission (JFAC) Seeking Members for Two Committees
The Joint Facilities Advisory Commission (JFAC) has created two committees to explore two questions raised by Arlington Public Schools and are looking for members of the public who have an interest and expertise in these areas to join one of the two committees.
The questions the committees are looking into include:
- How do other jurisdictions integrate school facilities needs in land use studies, such as sector plans, which often increase permitted residential densities?
- How do other Virginia jurisdictions incorporate schools in public/private partnership agreements?
There are three meetings. One was held on April 28 and the remaining two are being held from 7-9 p.m. on May 19 and June 23. The JFAC will create a report with its findings from these discussions and will share them with the Arlington School Board and County Board.
If interested in serving on one of the two committees, contact Kathleen McSweeney, JFAC Chair, at mcsweeneykathleen@gmail.com.
Let’s celebrate our teaching heroes! It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!
In May, we will celebrate all our employee groups:
- May 3-7: Teacher Appreciation Week
- May 5-6: Teaching Assistants
- May 7/10: Food Service Staff
- May 11-12: Extended Day Staff
- May 13-14: Bus Drivers & Attendants
- May 17-18: E-Scale Staff
- May 19-20: Custodial and Maintenance Staff
- May 21/24: Administrative Assistants
- May 25-26: Principals & Assistant Principals
School Board Open Office Hours
The Board recognizes that the open meeting format is no longer a productive medium for participants to share their comments. The Board will modify Open Office Hours to ensure everyone’s opinions and input is respected and everyone is treated with decorum. Information on how to sign up for future Open Office Hours will be sent when plans are finalized.
Upcoming Open Office Hours:
Monday, May 24, 2021 with David Priddy from 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 with Barbara Kanninen from 8:30 to 10:30 AM
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.
Extended Day Registration for 2021-22 School Year Opens May 25: https://www.apsva.us/post/extended-day-registration-for-2021-22-school-year/
iPad Screen Time Setting Disabled During SOL Testing Window: https://www.apsva.us/post/ipad-screen-time-setting-disabled-during-sol-testing-window/
COVID-19 Testing for Student Athletes: https://www.apsva.us/post/covid-19-testing-for-student-athletes/
COVID-19 Testing: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/health-safety/covid-19-testing/?utm_source=COVID%20Testing&utm_campaign=f5April16
Class of 2021 Graduation: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/class-of-2021-graduation/
Safety at School: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/health-safety/safety-at-school/?utm_source=ventilation&utm_campaign=f5feb26#top
- Project Extra Step Provides Support to Families Experiencing Homelessness: https://www.apsva.us/student-services/homeless/?utm_source=project%20extra%20step&utm_campaign=f5feb12
APS COVID-19 Dashboard: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/aps-covid-19-dashboard/?utm_source=APS%20COVID%20Dashboard&utm_campaign=f5oct2
- 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