Superintendent Updates School Board on New High School Instructional Focus

Board Recognizes 2017 Honored Citizens

Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy provided the School Board with an update on the options for 1,300 new high school seats at last night’s meeting.

Through a community engagement process, a location for the new high school has been narrowed to three sites. They include:

1. Education Center, where a 9th grade academy (smaller learning environment) would be developed for Washington-Lee students, with expansion of the International Baccalaureate Program and creation of a World Languages site;
2. Kenmore, where the current middle school would remain and adjacent property would be used to build a new high school; and
3. Career Center, where Arlington Tech would be expanded and a 1,300 seat high school would be built. This option would allow for the repurposing of the Education Center.

The report also included an update on the status of revising School Board Policy 25-2.2 Enrollment and Transfers for Schools and Programs. The full presentation is available online. Staff will continue to engage the community on the three high school options.

Another School Board Work Session has been scheduled for Monday, May 15 at the Ed Center and the recommendations are slated to be presented to the Board for discussion and adoption in June. 

RECOGNITIONS:
Prior to the start of the meeting, the School Board recognized the 12 Arlington Public Schools (APS) volunteers who have been selected as the 2017 Honored Citizens. The APS Honored Citizen Award is presented by the Board each year to recognize special volunteers who have made extraordinary contributions to APS through a variety of school activities, demonstrating a sustained commitment to APS for at least five years. The complete list of Honored citizens is available on the APS website. 

PUBLIC HEARING:
The School Board held a public hearing to receive comments on the School Board’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget. 

ACTIONS ITEM:
Amendment to Purchasing Resolution – The Board approved an amendment to the Purchasing Resolution that will allow APS to explore Power Purchase Agreements in order to purchase renewable energy at more affordable rates. 

ADDITIONAL MONITORING ITEM:
Mathematics Update – Staff provided an overview of the APS math program, SOL pass rates, recommendations and next steps. The full report is available online. 

NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
The next School Board meeting will be held on Thu, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. The agenda will be posted one week before the meeting on BoardDocs.  

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.