Tag: school board
Community leaders push for school on Willston Center site
The Willston Center. Local residents are stepping up their efforts to push the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to transfer the Willston Multicultural Center property in Seven Corners to Fairfax County Public Schools as a site for a new, badly needed elementary school. The Mason District Council of Community Associations (MDC) has drafted a resolution … Continued
School board approves later high school start time
Advocates for later school start times pack a school board meeting last month. [Photo from SLEEP.] The Fairfax County School Board by a vote of 11 to 1 Oct. 23 approved later start times for high schools, beginning in the 2015-16 school year. High school would start between 8 and 8:10 a.m. and end between … Continued
School board approves school schedule
The Fairfax County School Board approved a master calendar for the 2014-15 school year at its July 24 meeting that reduces the number of school days from 183 to 180. Last month the school board eliminated early Monday dismissal for elementary school students. Additional changes in the calendar allow FCPS to comply with the state … Continued
School board split on accelerating Falls Church HS renovations
A sink in a FCHS science lab. The Fairfax County School Board spent an hour at a work session last week talking about the possibility of renovating Falls Church High School sooner than scheduled. But there wasn’t enough support to do that, so the school is still slated for the 2019 school bond, which means … Continued
FCPS eliminates half-day Mondays
Parents who’ve juggling childcare and work schedules to pick up their elementary-age children on early Mondays will have it a bit easier next year. The Fairfax County School Board voted June 26 to end the practice of Monday early dismissal. Keeping students in class all day on Mondays would allow for more instructional time plus … Continued
Local residents weigh options for later high school start times
People hash out the pros and cons of various school schedules at a meeting at Poe Middle School in Annandale. The majority of parents, teachers, community residents, and students who came to a meeting at Poe Middle School June 7 on later high school start times seemed to favor an option calling for high school … Continued
School board adopts budget for FY 2015
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a $2.5 billion budget for FY 2015 May 23 that delays a salary step increase for employees until November. The 2015 budget year starts July 1. The budget reduces school clerical and custodial staff, increases class size, and cuts needs-based staffing. It includes one additional position for each high … Continued
FCPS seeks public input on options for later school start times
The Fairfax County School Board is seeing public input on the following four options to implement later school start times for high school students: Middle school late High school hours: 8:30 a.m.-3:20 p.m. Middle school: 9:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m. Elementary school: starts 7:50-9:15 a.m. and ends 2:25-3:50 p.m. Approximate cost: $7.6 million Buses added: 60 Middle … Continued
FCPS leaders urge supervisors to avert school budget crisis
A fourth-grade class at Mason Crest Elementary School. Now that the Board of Supervisors has released an advertised budget for fiscal year 2015 that would only provide a 2 percent increase in the amount of funds to be transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools—rather than a 5.7 percent increase sought by Superintendent Karen Garza and … Continued
School leaders disappointed in proposed county budget
School board members, PTA leaders, and other education advocates stage a Save Our Schools rally before the Board of Supervisors meeting Feb. 25. School leaders and education advocates are disappointed in the small increase, about 2 percent, for Fairfax County Public Schools in a proposed county budget for fiscal year 2015 presented to the Board … Continued
School board agrees to consider options for renovating Falls Church HS
The Fairfax County School Board approved a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) Jan. 23 that recognizes the need to renovate Falls Church High School along with the other “legacy high schools” built in the 1960s. The board approved an amendment proposed by Sandy Evans (Mason) calling for the FCPS staff to “identify methods by … Continued
School board to consider renovation funds for Falls Church High School
Falls Church High School The Falls Church High School community plans to show up in force—wearing school colors—at a Fairfax County School Board meeting Jan. 23 to support measures proposed by school board members Sandy Evans (Mason) and Patty Reed (Providence) aimed at moving the school closer to renovation. The board is scheduled to discuss … Continued
FCPS school board purchases office building to relieve overcrowding at Bailey’s
6245 Leesburg Pike. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has purchased a five-story office building in Seven Corners for $9.37 million to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences. The funds are from a school bond passed by voters in November. “I’m pleased that we have been able to purchase the … Continued
FCPS officials share plans for office building school design
A rear view of the office building to be transformed into a school. Fairfax County Public Schools officials shared some of their thinking about how the annex to Bailey’s Elementary School, in an office building at 6245 Leesburg Pike, might look and function at a meeting with parents Dec. 12. The new building will serve … Continued
School board approves resolution to acquire office building
The Fairfax County School Board approved by a 9-3 vote Dec. 5 a resolution to acquire “by condemnation or by other means” a vacant office building on Leesburg Pike to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s Elementary School. The school board is pursuing negotiations to purchase the property from the owners, 6245 Leesburg Pike Holdings LLC, … Continued