School Board Receives Update on 2016-17 Enrollment Numbers

High School Boundary Refinement Framework Approved

The Superintendent presented an update on student enrollment for the 2016-17 school year at last night’s School Board meeting. As of September 30, 2016, the total number of PreK–12 students enrolled in APS is 26,152 students. This is an increase of 916 students (+3.6%) over the enrollment on Sept. 30, 2015. This year’s Sept. 30 enrollment is 99% of the spring projections.  The full enrollment report is available online.

ACTION ITEMS:
Framework for Proposed Refinements to High School Attendance Zone Boundaries The Board approved the framework for proposed refinements to high school attendance zone boundaries at last night’s meeting. For complete details, including the community engagement schedule, click here.

Waiver of School Board Policy 25-2.2: Enrollment and Transfers for Schools and Programs – The Board approved a staff recommendation to waive Policy 25-2.2: Enrollment and Transfers for Schools and Programs for middle and high schools. Waiving the policy will provide an interim solution to balance over-capacity at Gunston, Swanson and Williamsburg middle schools and Washington-Lee High School. It will also provide a short-term solution to manage increased enrollment during the 2017-18 school year. The transfers are based on 120% building occupancy over a three-year period for middle schools and a four-year period for high schools and will be reevaluated annually.During the 2017-18 school year, there will be voluntary transfers for Kenmore and Jefferson middle schools as well as Wakefield and Yorktown high schools.

Revision of School Board Policy 25-3.2: Homeless Education Services – The Board approved changes to the policy to ensure compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Act, which assures provision of services for homeless youth, including transportation and social services; coordinating identification of services, and providing services for homeless students who live outside of Arlington County.

Revision of Select Information Services Policies: The Board approved minor text changes to School Board Policies 30 and 30.2-1, removing reference to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

MONITORING ITEM:
APS 3-5 Year Plan – Staff presented an update to the Board on the Three to Five Year Plan for Arlington Public Schools. The report included an overview of the new infographic brochure, and staff also discussed the new website being developed to provide updated information for the plan and reviewed how the plan will be shared with APS stakeholders and the community. The report is available online.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
New Elementary School at Jefferson Site Schematic Design – Staff reviewed the schematic design for the new elementary school that will be built at the Jefferson Middle School site. The new building will provide at least 750 seats and will be open by the start of the 2019-20 school year. It will be a multi-story building on the northwest corner of the Jefferson Middle School site and will include structured parking. The project is expected to cost $59 million.

Revision of School Board Policy 25-1.9 Privacy Rights and Regulations – Staff is recommended adding “student number” and “grade level” to the list of items considered directory information. “Directory information” is individual student information that APS will not disclose to any third party with consent from the student’s parent or guardian.

Internal Audit Plan – The School Board’s Internal Auditor, John Mickevice, presented his work plan for the year. The full report is available online.

RECOGNITIONS: The meeting began with recognition of Hispanic student leaders as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. The students were honored for their leadership and academic success. This year’s student honorees included: Fabian Montenegro Andrade, H-B Woodlawn; Brayan Gamero, New Directions; Joseph Beltran, Wakefield High School; Melanie Osorio, Yorktown High School; Veronica Olivera Rojas, Arlington Community High School; Isabel Estrada-Monzon, Langston High School Continuation Program; Ariel Hernandez Hernandez, Washington-Lee High School; and Georgina Rivera, Arlington Career Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Citizens who want to comment on any of the items discussed at the School Board meeting should email the Board at school.board@apsva.us or call 703-228-6015. Citizens may call 703-228-2400 on the Monday after the School Board meetings to listen to a meeting summary. School Board meetings are also broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FiOS Channel 41; live-streamed on the APS website, and re-broadcast on Fridays at 9 p.m. and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. immediately following the meeting. All materials and minutes of the meeting will be posted to the website at aps2016.apsva.us/schoolboard upon School Board approval at a subsequent meeting.