Tag: school board
School board approves three-year calendar
The Fairfax County School Board has adopted a school calendar for the next three years with a school start date well before Labor Day. The 2023-24 school year will start on Aug. 21 and end on June 12. There will be a two-week winter break (Dec. 18-29). The school board approved the calendar by a … Continued
Rachna Sizemore Heizer running for the Braddock seat on the school board
Rachna Sizemore Heizer, an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board and current chair of the board, is running for the Braddock District seat on the school board. The current Braddock school board member, Megan McLaughlin, will retire when her term expires on Dec. 31, 2023. McLaughlin has been on the board since 2012. … Continued
Descano announces re-election bid
Steve Descano, Fairfax County’s commonwealth’s attorney, announced Jan. 12 that he plans to seek re-election. “I’m proud of the great strides my office has taken in creating a criminal justice system where safety and justice go hand in hand and look forward to building on our success,” Descano said. He cited some of his accomplishments … Continued
School board claims ownership of land in Justice Park
Neighbors of Justice High School are concerned about the motives behind the Fairfax County School Board’s action to claim ownership of a 25-foot-wide stretch of land along Peace Valley Lane across from the school Nearly all the land is within Justice Park. According to a resolution approved by the board, it’s the school board’s intent … Continued
School news roundup
The following news briefs and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Where’s the equity? – The Fairfax County School Board passed a watered-down resolution Oct. 20 supporting educators “as they deliver FCPS-approved curriculum and classroom resources that are inclusive and meet the high aspirations of our students, families, and the Fairfax County community.” The … Continued
Michelle Reid appointed FCPS superintendent
The next superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools will be Michelle Reid, the school board announced April 14. Reid has been the superintendent of Northshore School District in Washington state since 2016. She will succeed Scott Brabrand, who is leaving FCPS at the end of the school year. The other finalist, Cheryl Logan, superintendent of … Continued
Two finalists were considered for FCPS superintendent – then one dropped out
UPDATE: Cheryl Logan has taken her name out of the competition for Fairfax County superintendent. She informed her board the same day the NAACP announced the two finalists. The Fairfax County School Board has narrowed the selection of the next school superintendent to two finalists, the Fairfax County NAACP reported April 9. The finalists are: … Continued
Appeals court grants stay in TJ case
Fairfax County Public Schools can continue to use the current admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology for the time being. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on March 31 granted a stay pending an appeal requested by the Fairfax County School Board. That means FCPS can continue … Continued
FCPS completes parent meetings on middle school configuration
Fairfax County Public Schools has completed the parent engagement process to determine whether Glasgow, Holmes, and Poe middle schools should be reconfigured to serve just grades 7 and 8. According to a FAQ issued by FCPS, the only reason for making the change is for consistency. The schools in Mason District are the only ones … Continued
School advocates rally for librarians
Nearly 70 people participated in a rally to support school librarians March 24 before a school board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School. At the meeting, several people attacked librarians for supporting LGBTQ students’ rights. The rally was co-hosted by 4 Public Education, the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT), and FCPS Pride. “The librarians … Continued
FXCO school board appeals TJ ruling
The Fairfax County School Board filed an appeal challenging the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Claude Hilton that would invalidate the race-neutral admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ). The appeal was filed March 16 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The school board also … Continued
Judge denies motion for stay in TJ case
A federal judge rejected a motion by the Fairfax County School Board March 11 to delay implementation of the judge’s decision on the admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, the Washington Post reports. Judge Claude Hilton of the U.S. District Court had previously ruled that the admissions system adopted by … Continued
New group supports public education
A new grassroots advocacy organization, called 4 Public Education, is speaking out against the increasingly aggressive attacks against public education. Mason District resident Holly Hazard, chair of 4 Public Education, announced the launch of the group during the community participation portion of the Feb. 10 Fairfax County School Board meeting. “Negative forces are at work … Continued
More school holidays next year
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a calendar for the 2022-23 school year that adds four religious holidays. Schools will be closed next year on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Orthodox Good Friday, and Diwali. (Eid and Lunar New Year fall on a non-school day in 2022.) There will be 14 professional work days for educators. … Continued
School boards sue governor over masks
The Fairfax County School Board joined with six other school boards in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 2. That document gives parents the right to disregard the state’s universal mask mandate. The other plaintiffs include the school boards of Alexandria City, Arlington County, City of Richmond, Falls Church City, … Continued