School Board Adopts 2018-24 Strategic Plan Mission, Vision, Core Values and Goals

Approves New School Naming Policy with Expanded Criteria
Directs Superintendent to Begin Renaming Process for Washington-Lee High School

At its June 7 meeting, the School Board adopted the Mission, Vision, Core Values and Goals of the 2018-24 APS Strategic Plan that serves as a framework for the School Board and Advisory Committees, school and department plans, and individual work plans.

The Board directed the Superintendent to develop final strategies, desired outcomes, and performance objectives of the strategic plan for School Board approval in September.

The new goals provide the areas of focus that are the framework for operations and planning and keep students at the center of everything APS will do and focus on, including:

• Multiple Pathways to Success for All Students;
• Healthy, Safe and Supported Students;
• Engaged Workforce;
• Operational Excellence; and
• Strong and Mutually-Supportive Partnerships.

The APS Strategic Plan takes effect on July 1. The full presentation and Strategic Plan is available online.  

Revision of School Board Policy (SBP) 50-1.10 Naming of Facilities
The Board approved the revisions to the APS policy 50-1.10 on Naming of Facilities. These revisions include the expanded criteria for naming new APS schools and facilities and the added process for the School Board when considering future school renaming requests.

The Board also approved the recommendation to initiate a community review and renaming process for Washington-Lee High School because Robert E. Lee’s name does not meet the with the newly-adopted APS School Naming Criteria. Accordingly, the Board directed the Superintendent to identify members of the Washington-Lee High School Renaming Committee by September 2018. The School Renaming Committee will be charged to work through the fall of 2018, in accordance with the APS Naming of Facilities Implementation Procedures 50-1.10, and to submit a recommendation for a new name for Washington-Lee by December 2018, for consideration and approval by the School Board.

The presentation along with resources and the motions adopted by the Board are available on BoardDocs.  

OTHER ACTION ITEMS:
The Board approved also approved the following items:

• Revision of School Board Policy 20-3.400 Family Life Education – The Board approved the recommended revisions to the Family Life Education policy.
• Revision of School Board Policy 20-3.600 High School Credit at Middle School – The Board approved revisions to the policy that guides opportunities for APS middle school students to study high school courses and earn high school credit.
• Revision of SBP 20-1.9 Locally Awarded Verified Credit – Staff presented revisions that will update the policy based on information from the Virginia Department of Education.
• Change to Guaranteed Maximum Price for the New School at Wilson – The Board approved an increase to the Wilson GMP contract with an individual change order of $624,538.

More information on these items is available on BoardDocs.  

• MONITORING ITEMS:
  Elementary Planning Initiative Update – Staff provided a monitoring report to the School Board on the proposed Fall 2018 process to establish elementary school boundaries. New elementary school boundaries will take effect in September 2019 when APS will add 752 new elementary seats by opening the new Alice Fleet Elementary School; moving the Montessori program into the Henry building; and opening Drew Model School as full neighborhood school.

This Boundary process will:

• Create new attendance zones for Fleet and Drew;
• Balance enrollment across the elementary schools involved;
• Apply to all students who will be in elementary school in 2019-20, including current 2017-18 students now in PreK through Grade 3; and
• Help families prepare for the changes that will take effect in September 2019.

Schools to be included in the Fall 2018 elementary school boundary process include: Drew; Henry (Fleet); Hoffman-Boston; Oakridge and Randolph. Planning units from Abingdon; Arlington Science Focus School (ASFS); Barcroft; Carlin Springs; Long Branch and Taylor could potentially be included in either the Fall 2018 boundary process or the future elementary school boundary process in Spring 2020 that will create a new attendance zone for the elementary school opening at Reed.

Staff also outlined the policy considerations to be used in this process and presented a proposed timeline and details on the community engagement that will accompany the initiative. Information and activities will be available this summer, with more intensive efforts—including community meetings and a Public Hearing—taking place in September and October. The School Board is scheduled to act on elementary school boundary recommendations in November 2018.

For more information, visit https://aps2016.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/.

• Annual Report of the Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) – Staff reported on the ACI recommendations; areas of focus and staff responses. The recommendations and staff responses are available here.  

INFORMATION ITEMS:

• School Board’s Proposed 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan – The School Board presented its proposed CIP which anticipates continued enrollment growth across all school levels for the duration of the 10-year CIP. No decisions were made and the Board will hold another work session on Tue, June 12. The SB’s proposed CIP includes:
• 725 new elementary seats at Reed, scheduled to open in 2021, and
• More high school seats opening in 2021
  • 600 at the Education Center and
  • 250 for Arlington Tech (at the Career Center) that will open in 2021
  • 800 at the Career Center in 2024
• Plans for additional seats beyond the range of the 10-year CIP including
  • 725-750 additional elementary seats in 2029.
  • 300 additional middle school seats in 2030

The Board asked staff to explore one more adjustment to the Career Center. That information will be prepared for the Work Session on June 12.  The Board adopts its CIP for the bond referendum at the June 21 meeting.

• Proposed SBP 40-3.1 Unpaid Meal Charges – Staff presented revisions to the policy which will bring it in line with both USDA and Code of Virginia requirements. The proposed policy is available online.
• Revision of SBP 25-1.12 School Hours/Compulsory Attendance – The Board was provided an update on SBP 25-12.
• License Agreement for Historic Markers at the Drew Property – The proposed agreement permits Arlington County to use a portion of the School Parcel for constructing, installing, using, and maintaining five Panels to display information about the history of the Nauck neighborhood and community.
• Contract Amendment for Architecture and Engineering Services for the Yorktown High School Internal Modifications – Staff is recommending that the Board approve a contract amendment of $46,669 for the added scope and establish $538,854.92 as the fixed-price total for the project.
• Verizon Easement for Barrett Elementary School – Staff presented a proposed Verizon Deed of Easement Agreement granting Verizon a non-exclusive easement and right-of-way to provide telephone and Internet service to Barrett Elementary School.

Information on the above items is available on BoardDocs. 

RECOGNITIONS:
The School Board began the meeting by honoring APS staff who have announced their retirement. The Board also recognized the Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet Corps for their service presenting the colors and leading the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings during the school year. Finally, they congratulated AFJROTC Instructor Col. Mark Dierlam, the 2018 Overall AFJROTC Outstanding Instructor of the Year. 

NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
The final School Board meeting of the 2017-18 school year will be held on Thu, June 21 (2110 Washington Blvd.) at 6:30 p.m. The agenda will be posted one week before the meeting on BoardDocs. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Citizens who want to comment on any 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 will be posted to the website at aps2016.apsva.us/schoolboard upon School Board approval at a subsequent meeting.