Tag: school board

New agreement clarifies role of SROs
Officer James Cottom, an SRO at Lake Braddock Secondary School. [FCPD] A revised Memorandum of Understanding between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Police Department FCPD clarifies the the role of School Resource Officers (SROs), with the goal of better protecting students’ rights. The school board approved the new SRO July 26. … Continued

Donors support Justice High School
The design for the new gym floor features the Justice High School Wolves. A one-day fundraising effort to help Fairfax County Public Schools cover the costs associated with the renaming of JEB Stuart High School to Justice High School yielded $11,589 in donations from 105 people. The name change will take effect for the start … Continued

Students speak out on gun violence
From the left: Fred Hagen-Gates of Woodbridge High School and Youth for National Action; Lena Ebadi of Stuart High School; Mayada Hassan of Stuart; Dolly Lebow of Falls Church High School, student school board member Niharika Vattikonda; school board member Sandy Evans; and Del. Kaye Kory. Students alarmed by the increasing number of school shootings are frustrated … Continued

School budget addresses teacher pay gap
School board member Sandy Evans talks about the FCPS budget. After struggling with limited budgets for years, the Fairfax County Public School is now in a good-enough financial situation that it can begin raising teacher pay to levels comparable with surrounding school systems. The FCPS budget for FY 2019, as recommended by Superintendent Scott Brabrand … Continued

Vigil honors victims of Florida school shooting
Students, teachers, parents, and community members gathered at a vigil Thursday evening to remember the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 14. Participants held candles while members of the faith community offered prayers and speakers called for commonsense solutions to improve school security. The event was held … Continued

School news: a Belvedere success story
Assistant Superintendent Fabio Zuluaga and Belvedere Principal Cecilia Vanderhye. An occasional series highlighting programs and activities at schools in the Annandale/Mason District area and other school news. The information and photos here are from Fairfax County Public Schools and individual schools. A Title I winner – Belvedere Elementary School has been named a National Title 1 … Continued

School board changes the name of Jeb Stuart High School to Justice High School
The audience at the school board meeting. The Fairfax County School Board voted Oct. 26 – after a lengthy, emotional, and at times confusing discussion – to change the name of Jeb Stuart High School to Justice High School. The name “Justice,” as put forth by Sandy Evans (Mason), is meant to honor the three … Continued

Holmes Middle School celebrates 50th anniversary
The Holmes Middle School orchestra performs during the 50th anniversary celebration. Students, teachers, alumni, and community members celebrated the 50th anniversary of Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School in Lincolnia Oct. 21 with musical performances, reminiscences, a 5K run/walk, dedication of a new Little Free Library, and cake. School board member Sandy Evans presents a school … Continued

Community members charged with voting for a new name for JEB Stuart High School select ‘Stuart’
The scene outside Stuart High School as people showed up to vote for a new name. The option for retaining the Stuart name for JEB Stuart High School got the most points in a voting exercise conducted by Fairfax County Public Schools Sept. 16. “Stuart/Stuart Raiders” got a total of 917 points, while Justice Thurgood … Continued

Community considers new names for JEB Stuart High School
The main entrance at Stuart. Most of the new names for JEB Stuart High School proposed at a public meeting at the school Sept. 9 fell into these categories: Honoring a civil rights advocate, particularly Barbara Rose Johns or Justice Thurgood Marshal Selecting a name based on geographic location Honoring another historical figure. The Fairfax … Continued

Keys-Gamarra wins big in special school board election
Karen Keys-Gamarra (in blue) flanked by Virginia lieutenant governor candidate Justin Fairfax, candidate for governor Ralph Northam, Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova (left), and members of the school board. Karen Keys-Gamarra won a resounding victory for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board in a special election Aug. 29. Keys-Gamarra, who … Continued

School board candidates spar on budget issues, renaming Stuart High School
From the left: Chris Grisafe, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and Michael Owens. Candidates for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board funding and school names at a candidate forum Aug. 23 at McLean High School. The special election is Aug. 29. The polls will be open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. The last day for in-person absentee … Continued

Turnout will be critical in Aug. 29 special election for at-large school board member
School board candidate Karen Keys-Gamarra (second from right) at Vietfest in Tysons Corner Aug. 12. There’s an important election coming up – and many people don’t know about it: On Aug. 29, when many voters will be on vacation, the polls will be open for a special election to fill an open at-large seat on … Continued

FCPS announces process for renaming JEB Stuart HS
JEB Stuart High School, with a plaque showing the year it was built, 1959. Fairfax County School Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand invites the Stuart community to a meeting Saturday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m., at JEB Stuart High School to consider a new name for the school. The school board voted July 27 to change … Continued

School board votes to change the name of JEB Stuart High School
The audience at the school board meeting represented both side of the name change debate. The Fairfax County School Board voted July 27 to change the name of JEB Stuart High School. That vote was taken after the board rejected a motion to delay a vote on a name change until October. The motion to … Continued