School Board Update
June 15, 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
Superintendent's Reopening Update
Lea la actualización en español
APS Announces Return-to-School Task Force Members
APS has formed a Return-to-School Task Force composed of teachers, staff, students and parents from designated APS advisory groups, to provide input as plans are developed to reopen schools. More details at https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-announces-return-to-school-task-force-members/
Let’s Talk: A Community Discussion on Racism Event
Arlington Public Schools will host a virtual event titled, “Let’s Talk: A Community Discussion on Racism,” on Monday, June 22 from 7-8:30 p.m. As a follow up to the joint statement on racism issued by the Superintendent and School Board earlier this month, the virtual event will include a panel discussion and a question and answer session for students, staff and community members to engage in a meaningful discussion around racism.
This event will be the first in a series of community discussions on racism, equity, social justice and how they all intersect within educational systems. The purpose of the first event in the series is to establish a safe space for community members to engage using the four agreements of courageous conversations about racism; define and differentiate non-racism and anti-racism; and define empathy.
APS leaders will discuss the APS journey, including a high-level discussion of actions taken to date and the future commitments to confront racism in schools. The event will also discuss available resources for APS families and staff to begin discussing racism and the various forms of bias to provide improved educational experiences and outcomes for all students, especially for African American students.
During the event, there will be a panel discussion with the following featured individuals:
- Tannia Talento, Arlington School Board Chair
- Dr. Francisco Durán, APS Superintendent
- Arron K. Gregory, J.D., APS Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
- Emily Vincent, County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) President-Elect
- Galilee Ambellu, Yorktown High School Graduating Senior
- Panel Moderator: Dr. Shantha Smith, APS Equity & Excellence Coordinator
Submitting Questions for the Panel Discussion
The community can submit questions in advance by sending their questions to Engage with APS! by email at engage@apsva.us or by texting questions to 703-957-0089. During the event attendees will be able to submit questions in real-time by using the Microsoft Teams Q&A feature or by using the Facebook Live chat feature.
Viewing the Event
The event will be broadcast on Microsoft Teams and Facebook Live on the Arlington Public Schools Facebook page. There is no special software or app needed to view the event on Microsoft Teams, but for an optimum viewing experience, the recommended browser is Google Chrome. The event will also be broadcasted live, with closed captions, on Comcast Channel 70 and Verizon Channel 41.
Future Events
In July and August, APS will host additional events for students to continue the dialogue. Details about the Let’s Talk: Critical Conversations Student Summer Series will be shared soon.
Contact Information
For additional information or questions about this event, please contact Family Engagement & Public Information Communications Coordinator Daryl Johnson at 703-228-7667 or daryl.johnson@apsva.us.
Virtual Town Hall Meeting with New Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán
The final Community Town Hall with Dr. Francisco Durán will take place on June 23, 7-8 p.m.
For information on how to participate in the Virtual Town Halls via Microsoft Teams or Facebook, and how to access simultaneous translation, visit www.apsva.us/engage/engage-with-the-new-superintendent-virtual-town-hall-meetings/. These events can also be viewed on Comcast Channel 70/Verizon Channel 41
Celebrating the Class of 2020!
APS is highlighting graduating seniors. Check out a few of our outstanding 2020 graduates! Schools and families are encouraged to share memories, images and messages honoring seniors using the following hashtags: #APS2020grads #Classof2020
Arlington Community Learning’s Summer Registration Now Open
School Board Continues to Accept Applications for the ACTL, BAC, and FAC Committees for the 2020-21 School Year
The Arlington School Board values input from parents and members of the community as part of the APS decision-making process. That’s 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 and Learning (Formerly Advisory Council on Instruction), the Budget Advisory Council and the Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs. Information about all advisory groups and applications for the groups can be found on the APS website.
The Board will appoint new members in June to two-year terms to fill any vacancies on these Councils. For more information, contact the School Board office at 703-228-6015.
Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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.
Summer School Registration Underway: https://www.apsva.us/post/summer-school-registration-underway/
Grab and Go Meal Distribution to Continue Through Summer: https://www.apsva.us/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/free-lunch-breakfasts-and-other-resources/
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/
Watch “At Home with APS” at https://www.apsva.us/continuity-of-learning/at-home-with-aps-videos/
Questions related to APS and the change in operations due to COVID-19 can be sent to engage@apsva.us
Share your Comments with the Board
We encourage you to share your thoughts and comments with the School Board by email at School.Board@apsva.us. We ask that you minimize messages to individual board members, as they will be focused on communications about maintaining safe operations during the pandemic. The Board Office staff is teleworking and will be monitoring the School Board email account during normal business hours. Board members will receive regular reports of emails received and will have ready access to view all messages received.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.