APS News Release

School Board Adopts New Budget Direction in Response to COVID-19

Adopts 2020-21 Barcroft Calendar

At its meeting on March 25, the School Board adopted a revised Budget Direction for the Interim Superintendent in response to the effect that the Coronavirus is having on the local economy.

The School Board directed the Interim Superintendent to prepare a revised proposed FY 2021 budget that maintains APS’s growing 28,000-student school system and should present the revised proposed budget at the Board’s first meeting in April or once sufficient information is available regarding projected County, State, and Federal revenues. The revised proposed budget should continue to consider the school system’s needs going forward and be consistent with APS’s Mission, Vision, Core Values and Strategic Plan.

In addition, the proposed budget should reflect the new reality and the current state of economic affairs of Arlington County again due to the Coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the local economy. Because conditions are changing daily, the Superintendent may need to present the Board with various budget scenarios. This budget direction replaces the budget direction approved on Oct. 3, 2019.

Barcroft 2020-21 School Year Calendar
The School Board adopted the Barcroft Elementary School 2020-21 school year calendar during its meeting. The first day of school for Barcroft students is scheduled for Thu, Aug. 6. Other key dates include:

  • 1st Intersession – Oct. 19-30
  • Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 25-27
  • Winter Break – Dec. 21-Jan. 1
  • Spring Break – March 29-April 2
  • 2nd Intersession – April 5-9
  • Last Day of School – June 17

The full calendar is available on BoardDocs.

Interim Superintendent’s Update
Interim Superintendent Cintia Johnson provided an update on the APS closures and COVID-19 response, as well as an overview of the work of the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Her full presentation is available on BoardDocs.

Monitoring/Information Items
The Board was given updates on the following items:

NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
The April 2 School Board has been canceled. Updates on the status of additional meetings will be provided. 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.