School Board Update
May 25, 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
Summary of the May 20, 2021 School Board Meeting
The School Board discussed a recommendation to rename the Key Immersion Program as “Escuela Key Elementary” at its May 20 meeting. The Board will act on this name recommendation on June 3. If approved, the name will take effect for the 2021-22 school year when the program relocates to its new building, the former Arlington Traditional School site. The proposed name was recommended by a committee made up of staff, parents and community members. Read additional details at https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-discusses-proposed-new-name-for-the-key-immersion-program/.
The Board also honored employees that have reached professional milestones by providing 20 years or more of service to APS. A complete list of honorees is posted at https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-honors-career-service-milestones/.
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/.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY 2022
Every two years, the School Board adopts a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that addresses APS capital needs—investments needed to improve or enhance the infrastructure of our schools—over the next ten years. The CIP includes major capital projects, such as new schools and school additions, as well as major maintenance and minor construction projects.
In June 2020, due to budgetary pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the School Board, in conjunction with the County Board, pivoted away from preparing a ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and, instead, developed a one-year CIP. This year, the School Board is considering adopting a FY 2022 Four-to-Six-year CIP to continue building:
- plans to address APS seat needs due to ongoing student enrollment growth,
- facility enhancements at the Career Center,
- the Heights Building site, and
- needed upgrades for air quality, security, kitchens, and fields.
Recognizing that these needs might outweigh anticipated financing available, the School Board directed the Superintendent to develop a three-year CIP that aligns with the APS equity policy. The CIP will be acted upon by the School Board in June 2021 and then development will begin of a 10-year CIP to be approved in June 2022.
All CIP materials are posted at www.apsva.us/engage/cip
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
Students 12-17: Get Free COVID-19 Vaccination!
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:
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 with Barbara Kanninen from 8:30 to 10:30 AM
Monday, June 7, 2021 with Monique O'Grady from 7:30 to 9:30 PM
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.
APS to Provide Extra Meals Memorial Day Weekend: https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-to-provide-extra-meals-memorial-day-weekend/
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