Nov. 15 Engage Updates

Nov. 26: Community Questionnaire on the Draft APS 2019-20 School Year Calendar
Please share your input by Nov. 26 on the two draft calendar preferences (Calendar I and Calendar II) available for review on an Engage page and in a community questionnaire at aps2016.apsva.us/engage/engage-aps-online-feedback/. Responses will be provided to the Superintendent to help develop a recommendation for the 2019-20 School Year Calendar to the School Board in January 2019.

The differences between the options are as follows:

• Option 1: Columbus Day (Oct. 14) is a holiday for students and a professional learning day for all APS staff. In this option, 12-month employees will have Dec. 26 as a holiday in lieu of Columbus Day (Oct. 14).
• Option 2: Columbus Day (Oct. 14) is a holiday for students and staff. Mon, Oct. 7 will serve as the professional learning day for all APS staff. In this option, students would be off on both Mon, Oct. 7 and Mon, Oct. 14, and 12-month staff would report on Dec. 26.

Nov. 27: Community Questionnaire on Grandfathering Recommendation in Current Elementary School Boundary Process
APS seeks community input by Nov. 27 on a recommendation for grandfathering in the current boundary process that would provide the option to remain at current schools for only one additional year to 2018-19 grade 4 students—who will be in grade 5 in September 2019—and their younger siblings concurrently enrolled in September 2019 at Abingdon, Barcroft, Drew, Henry (Fleet), Hoffman-Boston, Long Branch, Oakridge and Randolph. Grandfathering allows specific students to be exempt from boundary changes and continue attending their current schools for a defined amount of time (in this case, the recommendation is for one year). On Dec. 6, the School Board will vote on grandfathering as well as final boundaries. This questionnaire is available at aps2016.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/.

Nov. 27: School Board Public Hearing on Elementary School Boundaries
The School Board will hold a Public Hearing on elementary school boundaries at 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 on the second floor of the Syphax Education Center (2110 Washington Blvd.). For information about speaking, visit aps2016.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/sign-up-to-speak/. To view live online, visit aps2016.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/. To view information from this boundary process, including maps, data tables, community input and more, visit aps2016.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/.

Dec. 6: School Board Meeting to include Elementary School Boundary Vote and School Naming Information Item
At the Dec. 6 School Board meeting—which will begin at 6 p.m. to allow more time for public comment—final elementary school boundaries will be adopted that will take effect in September 2019 for eight elementary schools. This meeting will be held on the second floor of the Syphax Education Center (2110 Washington Blvd.). For information about speaking, visit aps2016.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/sign-up-to-speak/. To view live online, visit aps2016.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings. Information about this boundary process is available at aps2016.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/. This meeting will also include an information item on school naming for the Montessori program, the new middle school, and the new building at the Wilson site.

For more information, visit aps2016.apsva.us/school-naming-and-renaming-processes/.