School Board Update
March 30, 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
Summary of the March 25, 2020 School Board Meeting
At its meeting on March 25, the School Board adopted a revised Budget Direction for the Interim Superintendent in response to the effect that the Coronavirus is having on the local economy.
The School Board directed the Interim Superintendent to prepare a revised proposed FY 2021 budget that maintains APS’s growing 28,000-student school system and should present the revised proposed budget at the Board’s first meeting in April or once sufficient information is available regarding projected County, State, and Federal revenues. The revised proposed budget should continue to consider the school system’s needs going forward and be consistent with APS’s Mission, Vision, Core Values and Strategic Plan. Read a summary of the meeting at https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-adopts-new-budget-direction-in-response-to-covid-19/
2020 APS Honored Citizens
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the School Board has postponed the 2020 Honored Citizens Award until further notice. Please check the School Board web page for updates.
School Board Meetings Update
- The School Board Work Session on the FY 2021 budget scheduled for March 31 have been canceled.
- The April 2 School Board meeting has been canceled.
- The School Board meetings page will be updated as the meeting calendar is confirmed.
- For the latest updates on the School Board, please visit the School Board webpage.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the School Board will be taking the following steps to protect the community, staff, and Board members at this time:
In general, upcoming Board Meetings will not be open to public comment unless legally required. Alternative means will be available to view Board meetings and provide input to the Board. In-person public attendance will be strongly discouraged in order to comply with current health guidelines on social gathering limits. Most or all staff presentations at Board meetings will be presented by video, and the meetings will continue to be available for viewing on the APS website and broadcast on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FIOS Channel 41.
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.
County, APS Supporting Schools’ Families During COVID-19 Shutdown
Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County Government are working together to support families following Governor Ralph Northam’s March 23 announcement that all Virginia public and private schools, K-12, will be closed through the rest of the academic year to protect the health and safety of Virginians and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“These are difficult times for our community, and the Governor’s decision has been devastating to many of our staff, students, and families. However, the safety and well-being of our community is paramount, and APS will continue to find innovative ways to support our students and families during these unprecedented times,” said School Board Chair Tannia Talento. “APS is now developing a plan to continue distance learning for our students beyond April 13. We are in regular communications with the County and are collaborating with County government, particularly on ensuring that students and families in need will have access to food. We are also exploring other ways to jointly support our students and their families through the remainder of the school year and are grateful for the strong partnership we have with the County.”
“The strong partnership between County Government and APS will help us help our Schools families get through this emergency,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “Tannia and I are talking daily to make sure our response is as effective and nimble as we can make it, and that we get the help that is needed to the people who need it as quickly as possible. That said, we ask for everyone’s understanding that we are creating new structures and new methods to new problems and will need to make adjustments and improvements as we respond. We appreciate the many volunteer efforts and suggestions we are getting from residents to help us improve.”
APS is providing free grab-n-go breakfast and lunch to kids two-to-18 years old, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kenmore Middle School and at Drew, Barrett, Campbell and Randolph elementary schools. Also, on Friday, April 3, APS will provide families who come to one of the sites a week’s worth of meals to ensure they have food during the week of the APS Spring Break (April 6-10). We are currently evaluating plans for food distribution through the remainder of the year.
The Governor also announced the closure of certain non-essential businesses across the Commonwealth and urged all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home.
“We know that families, businesses, our arts community and our non-profit organizations are all being hit hard. We, and every jurisdiction across the region, are working with the State and Federal governments to make adjustments, to secure resources and support to keep our social safety net intact, and to ensure that when this period passes, Arlington will be able to recover financially. We thank everyone for your support and your patience.” said Garvey.
Garvey noted that County Government continues to provide essential services, even though it has had to take difficult steps, such as shutting down community centers, libraries and most recently, parks, while restricting use of County trails and gardens to groups of fewer than 10 people.
“These steps, although painful, are unavoidable,” Garvey said. “Our only hope of slowing the spread of this virus, our only defense against this pandemic, is everybody’s cooperation and careful, consistent observance of social distancing and personal hygiene. As much as possible, everyone needs to stay home. Staying home is the most important and effective thing everyone can do to slow the spread of the virus.”
Additional Information
To learn more about Arlington Public Schools’ meal services during the closure, as well as a list of community partners providing meals, visit the APS COVID-19 meals webpage.
The Virginia Department of Education also has issued guidance to help school districts continue instruction and ensure that students are served equitably, regardless of income level, access to technology, English learner status or special needs.
To learn more about the County’s response to the COVID-19 virus, and what you can do to help, visit the County website or the APS website.
Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
By order of the Governor of Virginia, APS schools are closed through the end of the academic year.
Learning plans are in place through Canvas, Seesaw and other platforms. More information is forthcoming.
Free grab-n-go lunch/breakfast will be provided to kids 2-18 yrs old, Monday through Friday 11am-1pm, at Kenmore, Drew, and (beginning 3/25) Barrett, Campbell and Randolph.
- APS is working collaboratively with state and county health officials and other school divisions in Northern Virginia to continuously monitor coronavirus (COVID-19) and assessing developments and new information.
Additional information and resources at https://www.apsva.us/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/
2020 Census Reminder
Have you completed your 2020 Census online form online form? It’s simple & easy! A complete count is critical to ensuring funds & representation in Congress.
Check your mailbox and fill it out online, by mail, or by phone in English 1-844-330-2020 (en español 1-844-468-2020).
New Permanent Superintendent Search
The search for a new superintendent continues on the previously announced schedule. The Board has received applications for the vacancy and will be conducting interviews over the next several weeks. The interview process will be confidential. Once a candidate is selected, the Board will negotiate a contract, and hopes to make an appointment by early May.
More information on the superintendent search at https://www.apsva.us/engage/search-for-new-aps-superintendent/