School Board Discusses Interim Superintendent’s Proposed CIP for FY 2021

Approves Modification to End-of-Year Calendar
At the May 21 School Board meeting, Interim Superintendent Cintia Johnson presented a one-year APS Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Year 2021, in keeping with the proposed short-term Arlington County FY 2021 CIP that includes near-term APS needs. The proposed APS FY CIP focuses on continuing projects already underway as well as on a limited list of new investments. The Interim Superintendent referenced the uncertain budget situation due to the impact of COVID-19 in presenting her Proposed CIP for FY 2021 and Future CIPs along with details about the CIP funding. The one-year CIP is a change from the normal 10-year CIP.

The proposed APS CIP for FY 2021 focuses on the near-term funding needs considered essential to completing capital projects currently underway, maintaining infrastructure, and meeting projected capacity needs, as the school division expects to add about 1,100 more students in 2020-21, a 4% enrollment increase. In shifting this month from the initial CIP direction set by the School Board in December 2019, staff identified opportunities to create flexibility for APS capital planning by adjusting the timing of some capital projects where possible, drawing down some capital reserves, and postponing new initiatives. Interim Superintendent Johnson identified priorities for CIPs in FY 2022 and future years, noting that the need to plan for enrollment growth continues, with a focus on projected middle and high school enrollment, as well as the ongoing need to maintain and improve existing schools by addressing kitchen renovations, security entrances , roofs, HVAC, etc.

The FY 2021 CIP proposal includes completion of the new 732-seat elementary school at the Reed site; renovations at the Career Center to bring Arlington Tech capacity up to 600 seats and at the Education Center to add 600 seats to Washington-Liberty; completion of Phase 1 of the Transportation Staff Facility Project; and planning funds for the Career Center Expansion Project. The Proposed CIP prioritizes urgent needs to:

• Refresh buildings and renovate kitchens at three elementary school facilities included in school moves for Fall 2021 (Key, ATS and McKinley)
• Plan and design for up to 700 additional middle school seats
• Plan and design for 800 additional high school seats
• Complete The Heights Building with funds for a field with parking below
• Complete Phase 2 of the Transportation Staff Facility Project
• Continue to provide Major Infrastructure funds to maintain our facilities

The School Board will adopt a final CIP on June 25, 2020. The next step is a Virtual School Board Work Session at 5 p.m. on May 27, which can be viewed live online; it will be followed at 7 p.m. by a CIP Public Hearing that can be viewed live online and on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FiOS Channel 41. More information on the APS CIP process and timeline is available at aps2016.apsva.us/engage/cip/. For information on how to share input with the School Board, visit the School Board webpage.

Revised 2020 School Calendar
The School Board approved a revision to the current school calendar to end the current school year on Fri, June 12. Ending instruction on June 12 will allow APS teachers and staff to engage in professional development during the week of June 15 to prepare for a strong re-entry to school in fall 2020.

Key dates for students and families:

• Friday, June 5 – Last day for Seniors (no change)
• Thursday, June 11 – Virtual Graduation for Arlington Career Center
• Friday, June 12 – Last day for Elementary, Middle and High School; Virtual Shriver Graduation
• Wednesday, June 17 – Virtual Middle School Promotions; H-B Woodlawn Virtual Graduation
• Thursday, June 18 – Virtual Graduation for Washington-Liberty, Wakefield and Yorktown
• Friday, June 19 – Virtual Graduation for Arlington Community High School and Langston High School Continuation

Appointments
The School Board made three appointments at its meeting.

• Ragan Sohr was named Principal of Barrett Elementary School. She has served as the interim principal since September.
• Kelly Krug was named Director of Special Education – Elementary
• Heather Rothenbuescher was named Director of Special Education – Secondary

Both Krug and Rothenbuescher were interim directors.

Monitoring Item
Staff updated the Board on the fall elementary boundary process and timeline. The full report is available on BoardDocs.

Information items
The Board was provided updates on the following items.

• Arlington Career Center Expansion Process Concept Design
• Jefferson Middle School Gymnasium Roof Replacement
• Amendment of School Board Policy I-11.61: Locally Awarded Verified Credits

Presentations for these items are available online.

NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:
The School Board will hold its next Regular Meeting (2110 Washington Blvd.) on Thu, June 4 at 7 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.