School Board Update
June 29, 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
Agenda for the July 1, 2020 School Board Meeting
The agenda for the July 1 School Board Meeting is posted on BoardDocs at:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.
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: NONE
B. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING - 9 AM
1. School Board Code of Conduct
2. Election of the Chair of the Board
3. Election of the Vice-Chair of the Board
4. Appointment of the Clerk of the Board
5. Appointment of Deputy Clerk of the Board
6. Approval of Payment of Claims
7. Supervision of Construction
8. Adoption of Schedule of School Board Meetings, 2020-2021 School Year
9. Adoption of Proposed Schedule of Pay Dates, 2020-2021 School Year
10. Adoption of Existing Policies and Regulations
11. Adoption of Guidelines on Executive Session Confidentiality
12. School Board Member Liaison Assignments, 2020-2021
13. School Board Speaker Guidelines
14. Appointment of Audit Committee Chair
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
C. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
D. CONSENT ITEMS:
1. Minutes:
a. February 25, 2020 Work Session on Mathematics Evaluation and Academic Update
b. March 10, 2020 Budget Work Session #2
c. March 17, 2020 Budget Work Session #3
d. April 10, 2020 School Board Policy Subcommittee Meeting
e. May 5, 2020 Budget Work Session
2. Membership in the Virginia High School League
3. FY 2022 Budget Development Calendar
4. Purchasing Resolution
E. MONITORING ITEMS:
1. Return To School Status Update
F. NEW BUSINESS:
G. ADJOURNMENT
Next School Board Meeting: July 16
Summary of the June 25 School Board Meeting
A Message from the School Board on the Importance of the Census
During these difficult times in our community and nation, I hope that this letter finds you safe, in good health, and maintaining hope for a better tomorrow.
The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic have been significant and highlight how vital schools are to our community. Schools provide a quality education along with programs, meals, services, social opportunities, and structure for thousands of children and their families.
The pandemic has also emphasized the importance of an accurate Census 2020 count and how critical it is to ensure that the appropriate amount of federal funding is allocated to our schools and community over the next 10 years to ensure continued support for our families and children.
Arlington receives approximately $50 million annually from federal grants based on Census data.
Completing the 2020 Census helps guarantee that Arlington will receive the correct amount of federal funding for school-related services such as Head Start, special education, after-school programs, school breakfast and lunch, children’s health insurance, early childhood development, childcare and more.
It also determines funding for transportation, infrastructure, social services, emergency services and other community needs. Recently, Census data determined the amount of money available to Arlington to expand food assistance services to many of our families, as well as offer Covid-19 testing and economic assistance to those who need it.
The first graders of 2020 will be in high school in 2030. Data from the 2020 Census will determine the resources available to them for most of their school days.
Congressional and State Representation
The U.S. Constitution provides for proportional representation in the House of Representatives, based on the results of the decennial Census. This is also known as redistricting, and both federal and state legislative districts can be redrawn based on Census population data. One of the best ways to show your support for the rights of everyone in our community, of all races and origins, is to help ensure our accurate representation in Congress and at the state level. Obtaining a complete Census count is the most direct and immediate way we can do that.
While 70% of Arlington households have responded to the Census already, we still have a way to go before everyone is counted. If you have already responded to the Census, thank you! If you have not yet responded, this is something you can do with your kids today.
The questionnaire takes about 10 minutes to fill out. It is important to count everyone regardless of immigration or citizenship status, and all responses to the 2020 Census are confidential and protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Under this law, the Census Bureau is required to keep respondent information confidential.
Make sure to count everyone living with you, including children.
- Count children where they live and sleep most of the time - even if their parents do not live there, or if they split their time between two homes.
- If a child moved during March or April 2020, count them at the address where they were living on April 1, 2020.
- Count newborns even if they were still in the hospital on April 1, 2020.
Here’s how you can help:
We need your help in getting the message out to everyone that taking the Census is safe, easy and important. Let them know:
- Taking the 2020 Census is important, easy, and confidential. Your responses are safe, secure, and protected by federal law. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics – they cannot be used against you in any way. Census data are used to allocate funding to numerous Arlington programs, including health services, education, food assistance, transportation, and housing.
- Taking the 2020 Census is Easy! You can take the Census:
- Online - Go to 2020census.gov. Non-English speakers can select a different language at the bottom of the page and/or review the language guides for step-by-step instructions on taking the Census in another language.
- By Phone - Call 844-330-2020 for English, 844-468-2020 for Spanish, or use these phone numbers to take the Census in 12 other languages.
- By Mail: The Census Bureau sent forms in English to Arlingtonians. Households that received a paper copy by mail can fill it out, place it in the envelope provided, and drop it in a mailbox. Non-English speakers can refer to one of the 57 language guides for instructions on filling out the form. Arlington provides a Mongolian language guide.
Again, we appreciate all you are doing under these very difficult circumstances. Thank you for taking the time to count everyone in your household so that Arlington receives the funding it needs to provide programs and services to our students, families and our entire community.
Everyone in Arlington Counts!
Sincerely,
Tannia TalentoChair, Arlington County School Board
Superintendent's Reopening Update
The Superintendent will provide a Return to School Status Update as a Monitoring Item at all upcoming School Board meetings, now through the fall. At the July 1 meeting, Dr. Durán is expected to share the recommended instructional model along with other important details and next steps. Watch School Board meetings live at https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings/.
APS and APCYF Release Countywide Results from 2020 Your Voice Matters Survey
Let’s Talk Summer Student Series
The Let’s Talk Summer Student Series is a series of student-based conversations about race relations in America. The next event in the series will be on Wednesday, July 8. The series is for students ages 12-21 to cultivate student leadership by moving students along a continuum of empowering their voices to identify problems and create solutions in advocating for change. All sessions in the series will be designed to model how to have table talks and family conversations about current events. For additional information or to register to participate, visit https://www.apsva.us/diversity-equity-inclusion/equity-resources/
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.
APS Social Worker Support Continues Through Summer: https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-social-worker-support-continues-through-summer/
Update on Fall Athletics and Band: https://www.apsva.us/post/update-on-fall-athletics-and-band/
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.