Arlington School Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

Motion Includes Direction to Superintendent for Future CIP to Meet Continued Enrollment Growth

At its June 25 meeting, the School Board voted 5-0 to adopt its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which includes $186.6 million in funding for school infrastructure needs. In adopting this one-year CIP, the School Board also provided direction to Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán for developing a four-to-six-year FY 2022 CIP that continues to plan for enrollment growth, which is projected to surpass 30,000 by 2021-22. This approach is a departure from the traditional 10-year CIP so that APS can align with Arlington County’s FY 2021 CIP which is focused on the short term due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The School Board’s adopted CIP will now be considered for inclusion in the Arlington County’s CIP, which informs the funds needed for the bond referenda that voters consider in November 2020. The list of APS CIP projects that will be included in the 2020 bond funding include the following:

• Planning and design funds to meet 10-year projected seat needs at all school levels
• Major infrastructure projects (i.e. HVAC replacement for schools)
• Building refreshes and kitchen renovations at ATS, Key and McKinley

• Entrance renovations for security at Taylor, Gunston, Jefferson, Williamsburg, Wakefield

For details about project funds in the CIP, the motion adopted by the School Board, and the direction provided for developing the FY 2022 CIP, visit https://aps2016.apsva.us/engage/cip/. Capital projects currently underway that were funded in the previous FY 2019-28 CIP include the new 725-seat elementary school at the Reed site, which will open in Fall 2021; additional capacity for 250 seats for Arlington Tech at the Career Center, which will be available in Fall 2021; the addition of 600 high school seats at the Education Center, which will now be completed in January 2022; and the Transportation Staff Facility renovation, which will be fully completed in March 2021.

“While we started this CIP process in the fall, we had to go in a completely new direction in May. This FY 2021 CIP was the result of lots of conversation, deliberation, thoughtfulness and hard work,” said School Board Chair Tannia Talento. “I believe this CIP is appropriate and strong, considering our limitations with the pandemic and the unexpected change in direction and economic crisis, and it allows us to move forward responsibly and meet the needs of our community. Our motion was extensive and detailed because it is important that we provide direction and prepare for a new CIP in just 10 months.”

For more information on the CIP, visit https://aps2016.apsva.us/engage/cip/. A recording of the June 25  School Board meeting can be viewed at https://aps2016.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings/.

More information on the County CIP is at https://budget.arlingtonva.us.

Return-to-School Plan
Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán updated the Board on work currently underway to plan for the return to school in the fall. The Superintendent presented two models to the Board that included students returning part time and an all virtual model for hi-risk students. Details on the proposed plan are available online.

Appointments
The School Board made the following appointments:

• Tony Hall was appointed Principal of Washington-Liberty High School
• Claire Peters was named Principal of the New Elementary School at Key
• Brian Stockton was named Chief of Staff
• Elise Kenney was appointed Director of Counseling at Williamsburg
• Nate Hailey was named Director of Student Activities at Wakefield

Action Items
The School Board approved the following items at its June 25 meeting.

• Revisions to the 2020-21 Barcroft Elementary School Calendar – The Board approved aligning the Barcroft Elementary School calendar with the main APS calendar. Barcroft will start school on Aug. 31 rather than Aug. 6. Details are available online.
• FY 2020 3rd Quarter Fiscal Monitoring Report – The Board approved the FY 2020 3rd Quarter Monitoring Report. The presentation is available online.

Information Items

• Proposed School Board Policy K-2.3.30 Media Relations – Staff recommended changes to this policy.
• School Board Policy K-6 Distribution of Non-School Materials – Staff recommended changes to this policy.
• Revision of School Board Policy M-10 Planetarium – Staff proposed revisions to School Board Policy M-1- Planetarium.
• Arlington Career Center Award for Columbia Pike Branch Library Renovation – Staff presented the proposed contract award for the Columbia Pike Branch Library renovation at the Arlington Career Center.

More information on these items is available on BoardDocs.

Monitoring Items
The Board was provided updates on the following items.

• Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs Annual Report
• Budget Advisory Council Annual Report

More information on both items is available on BoardDocs.

Recognitions
The School Board recognized the following students at the start of the meeting.

• Career Center Air Force JROTC Cadets
• Latin Scholars
• Student Athletes
• Scholastic Arts Awards

Next School Board Meeting:
The School Board will hold its organizational meeting on Wed, July 1 at 9 a.m. The School Board will hold its next Regular Meeting (2110 Washington Blvd.) on Thu, July 16 at 7 p.m. The agenda will be posted one week before the meeting on BoardDocs.