Board Meeting Recap: Capital Improvement Program and Supporting Novice Teachers
School Board Providence District 54 minutes 11 seconds agoHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.
Board Meeting Recap: February 6, 2025Dear Neighbor,
Last Thursday at the Fairfax County School Board’s Regular Meeting (agenda | video), we discussed and considered several important topics, including the approval of the 2026-30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Additionally, we received updates about the Novice Teacher Instructional Coaching Program, school division safety and security measures, and the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).
As always, you are welcome to attend School Board meetings (schedule) and register to share your thoughts with us during community participation (sign-up).
In service,
Karl Frisch
Chair and Providence District Representative
Fairfax County School Board
- Moment of Silence for Those Lost in American Airlines Flight 5342
- 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program
- Superintendent Performance Review: EL13 Safety and Security
- Academic Matters: National Assessment of Education Progress
- Strategic Plan Update: Supporting Novice Teachers
- Black History Month Proclamation
- Student Performance in Honor of Black History Month
- CTE, Disability Employment, and ACE Appreciation Month Proclamation
- Virginia High School League and Academic Team Recognition
- Student Performance of the National Anthem
- School Board Statement on Student Support
- Upcoming School Board Meetings
The meeting began with a Moment of Silence for the devastating loss of life in the previous week’s heartbreaking aviation tragedy at Washington National Airport, including three FCPS students and six FCPS parents. Our Board joined the community in grieving and extended its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and school communities of those lost.
2026-30 Capital Improvement ProgramThe Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a planning and fiscal management tool used to coordinate FCPS capital projects’ location, timing, and funding over five years. The FCPS CIP is updated annually to reflect changing conditions within our schools and communities and builds upon the previously approved program of capital expenditures. This includes the development of a five-year membership projection set, facility capacity evaluations, an annual update to the schedule and funding of capital construction cash flow, and a facilities management program. The Board approved the proposed 2026-30 CIP after a thorough discussion.
Motion: Meren, Second: McElveen / Vote: Yes 8, No 3, Abstain 1
Superintendent Performance ReviewThe School Board judges the overall success of the Superintendent on the school division’s reasonable progress toward achieving the 2023-30 Strategic Plan goals and adherence to a set of thirteen Executive Limitations found on pages 14-31 of the Board’s Strategic Governance Manual. The Superintendent provides annual monitoring reports to the Board for each Executive Limitation. The Board then votes on whether the provided reports are in compliance with the given Executive Limitation. If the report is found not to be in compliance, the Superintendent provides a corrective action memo addressing the Board’s concerns.
Executive Limitation 13: Safety and Security
The Superintendent provided her annual monitoring report on Executive Limitation 13: Safety and Security. As outlined on page 31 of the Board’s Strategic Governance Manual, Executive Limitation 13 stipulates, in short, that the Superintendent shall not fail to develop and implement plans to ensure students and staff are provided with safe and secure learning and working environments that support student achievement. Additionally, it states the Superintendent shall not fail to provide staff, students, and families with the necessary resources and information to ensure their understanding of FCPS’ safety and security plans and their role in such plans. Finally, EL-13 indicates the Superintendent shall not fail to consult with relevant stakeholders in the development of safety plans. Following the Superintendent’s presentation and a thorough discussion, the Board found that the monitoring report was in compliance with EL-13.
Motion: St John-Cunning, Second: Meren / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Not Present 2
Academic Matters: National Assessment of Education Progress
For Academic Matters, the Superintendent provided a report on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), which was developed to measure students’ educational achievement and progress in grades 4 and 8 – it was last updated 35 years ago. She noted that while the report shows that we have work to do as a state and a country, we need to be careful as we draw any local conclusions about the NAEP assessment. In FCPS, NAEP testing was limited to eight elementary and 13 middle schools in 2024. Only 466 FCPS students (less than 2% of FCPS 4th and 8th graders) participated in NAEP testing. This represented just 0.25% of all enrolled FCPS students in K-12.
Because of the limited scope of NAEP, she explained it is helpful to draw conclusions at the division level using other assessments, such as the Standards of Learning (SOL) exams. Our SOL exams had a much larger sample size (26,020 FCPS students tested, compared to less than 500 with NAEP). FCPS students made up 14% of Virginia’s total 4th and 8th grade SOL test takers and surpassed the state average in reading and math. As the largest school division in the Commonwealth, our students are continuing to raise the standard. We are proud of the work our students, our educators, and all those who support educators do each day.
Strategic Plan Update: Supporting Novice Teachers
For the Strategic Plan Update, the Superintendent discussed the Novice Teacher Instructional Coaching Program, which is new this school year. Dr. Reid noted how important it is to provide support to our novice teachers because the complex demands of teaching and learning take an average of 3-7 years to master, and new teachers need effective support to build a strong career foundation. Nationally, nearly half of all new teachers (44%) leave the profession within their first five years. Research also shows a strong link between comprehensive support for early career teachers and increased retention and efficacy rates.
FCPS has supported 436 FCPS teachers through the Novice Teacher Instructional Coaching Program since August, and the feedback so far has been encouraging, with 93% of teachers reporting that the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach helps them reflect on their teaching practices; 94% of teachers reporting the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach provides them with data and/or feedback to help adjust instruction; and 97% of teachers reporting that the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach is invested in their success as a teacher.
As part of the Superintendent’s presentation, she also shared the video below, which shows first-year Centreville Elementary School teacher Emma Patane receiving support from her instructional coach, Sarah Phillips, to help build confidence, refine best practices, and create engaging learning environments for her students. Having a diverse, adaptive, and supported workforce is Pillar C of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Black History Month ProclamationThe Board officially recognized February as Black History Month in Fairfax County Public Schools, honoring the invaluable contributions of Black Americans who have tirelessly advanced the interests of Fairfax County, Virginia, and the United States—often without recognition or fair compensation. We encourage our community to celebrate Black Americans’ ingenuity, creativity, cultures, and traditions and participate in educational events highlighting their lasting impact.
Motion: Sizemore-Heizer, Second: St John-Cunning / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Not Present 2
Student Performance in Honor of Black History MonthIn addition to declaring February as Black History Month, the Board welcomed a special performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing by Carter G. Woodson High School student Sarea Manson, accompanied on the guitar by Woodson Principal Kevin Greata. First written in 1900 as a poem by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, the song is often referred to as “The Black National Anthem.” It was later adopted by the NAACP and used to rally supporters of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 60s.
CTE, Disability Employment, and ACE Appreciation Month ProclamationThe Board also proclaimed February 2025 as Career and Technical Education, Disability Employment, and Adult and Continuing Education Appreciation Month and commended these programs pivotal roles in providing our students – young and adult – the opportunities to acquire job skills, transition to new careers, have equitable access to societal resources and grow as responsible and ethical workers and citizens.
Motion: R. Anderson, Second: Moon / Vote: Yes 10, No 0, Not Present, 2
Virginia High School League and Academic Team RecognitionThe Board recognized the Fall 2024 VHSL State Championship recipients and selected Performing Arts Ensembles.
Fall 2024 Virginia High School League Championship Team Recognitions
- Langley High School, Golf
- Langley High School, Girls Volleyball
- Robinson Secondary School, Girls Cross Country
- Robinson Secondary School, Cheerleading
- Chantilly High School, Esports Fall Season-League of Legends
- Woodson High School. Esports Fall Season-Rocket League
Middle School Sports
- Frost Middle School, Boys Cross Country Champions contributions to the team.
- Frost Middle School, Girls Cross Country Champions
Fall 2024 Virginia Music Educators Association Selected Performing Ensemble Group Recognitions:
- Falls Church High School Chamber Orchestra
- Lake Braddock High School Symphony Orchestra
- Thoreau Middle School Symphonic Band
- West Springfield High School Wind Symphony
- Glasgow Middle School Wind Ensemble
- Woodson High School Wind Ensemble
78th Midwest International Band Clinic Selected Performance Ensemble
- James W. Robinson Secondary School Symphonic Band
The Board meeting began with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Wakefield Forest Elementary School Advanced 6th Grade Strings, under the direction of Mary Lubinski:
School Board Statement on Student SupportDuring the meeting opening, the School Board issued the following statement of student support: “The Fairfax County School Board remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring every child receives a world-class education in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. We will uphold our policies supporting educational equity and championing the success of all students, including those receiving special education services, immigrant students and their families, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ students, and other historically marginalized communities. Our work is guided by the belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We will continue to stand by our students, families, and staff, ensuring that Fairfax County Public Schools remains a place where all feel valued and supported and every learner is empowered to achieve their full potential.”
Upcoming School Board MeetingsRegular Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)
- Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)
- Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. (Goal 4 Report and SR&R)
- Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. (Goal 5 Report and SR&R)
All meetings are broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. Meetings are also recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS YouTube channel. Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at regular meetings or public hearings.
Reuniones de la Junta Escolar de FCPS en Español: Para ver las reuniones de la Junta Escolar grabadas o para ver en vivo durante las reuniones regulares en YouTube, por favor vaya al canal de YouTube de FCPS en Español.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
E-mail: Karl Frisch | Phone: 571-423-1084