Tag: school board
Noise ordinance would allow louder sounds in residential areas
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider a more detailed noise ordinance May 12 that will in some cases allow louder sounds in residential neighborhoods. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. [Update: the board deferred a decision until June 23.] One key change … Continued
School board seeks $310 million bond
Annandale Terrace The Fairfax County School Board has asked the Board of Supervisors to place a $310 million school bond referendum on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 3. The bond would fund just one school project in the Annandale/Mason area: planning for renovations at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. That school is celebrating … Continued
Resolution on class size threatens high-needs schools in Mason
Belvedere Elementary School, one of the high-needs schools in Mason that could be hurt if the class size resolution is passed. The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) has passed a resolution that, if enacted by the school board, could result in larger classes in local elementary schools that serve large proportions of high-need students. The resolution, … Continued
School board, county exploring options for using Willston site for a school
Panelists at the forum on schools included (from the left): School board chair Tamara Denerak Kaufax, Regional Assistant Superintendent Fabio Zuluaga, Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Platenberg, school board member Sandy Evans, and Superintendent Karen Garza. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza told local residents at a State of Our Schools Forum Feb. 10 she is … Continued
Ryan McElveen to headline AHS Just World Festival
McElveen’s Happy New Year tweet. Popular Fairfax County school board member Ryan McElveen (at large) will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Just World Festival Feb. 27 at Annandale High School. The free Friday afternoon event features workshops, exhibits, and entertainment aimed at promoting social activism among youths from the perspective: “It’s not … Continued
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