School Board Provided Update on Whole Child Initiative

Honors Retiring School Board Member Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez

The Arlington School Board was provided an update on the Whole Child initiative at last night’s meeting. Staff reported on their work to implement the Whole Child Committees recommendations which include:

• A series of videos to help everyone understand what the Whole Child means;
• An inventory of Whole Child programs and services available for students that will be completed within the next year, to provide a clearinghouse of information in a single space and available to the entire community;
• Alignment of every school’s goals to the Whole Child framework; and
• A Whole Child conference that will be held in March.

The full presentation is available online.

Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez Retirement Recognition
The Board recognized and honored School Board member Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez who is retiring after eight years. While on the Board, she served as Chair during the 2012-13 school year and again during the 2015-16 school year. Violand-Sanchez retired from Arlington Public Schools in 2007.School Board Chair Nancy Van Doren said, “Dr. Violand-Sanchez’ leadership is grounded in her belief that all students, regardless of socio-economic or immigration status, have the right to an education that prepares them to be successful in a global workforce.” She continued, “During her service on the Board, Dr. Violand-Sánchez has championed family and community engagement and the teaching of World Languages starting at the elementary level.”

Monitoring Items
Family and Community Engagement – Staff presented a report of Family and Community Engagement. The goal of the work is improving student learning and healthy development by coordinating schools, families and community groups to work together and to make sure students have the opportunities they need to succeed in school and in life. The full presentation is available online.

Action Items
Legislative Package – The Board approved this year’s proposed state legislative priorities which include urging full funding for the Standards of Quality and all mandates to public schools; establishment of a School Health Advisory Board; support for recommendations from the SOL Innovation Committee; return to full funding of the Virginia Retirement System; and continued advocacy for returning control of the public school calendar to local school districts. Complete details are available in BoardDocs.

Revision of School Board Policy 35-6.2 Retirement – The Board approved a staff recommendation to change the School Board cash match on employee contributions that would send it directly into 403(b)/457(b) accounts instead of a separate 403(a) account.

Information Items
FY2016 Final Fiscal Closeout/Status Report and CIP Update – The Board was provided an update on capital programs; minor construction/major maintenance; bond construction; and other major and minor construction projects. Staff also provided a closeout summary and final fiscal status report. The full report is available online.

Revision of Select Student Services School Board Policies – Staff proposed changes to the School Board Policy 25-1.2 Cooperation with Juvenile Court.

Charge to Joint Advisory Committee on Transportation Choices – Staff presented on the joint School Board/County Board Advisory Committee on Transportation Choices (ACTC) and the proposed charge for ACTC. Community members interested in serving on the committee can download an application online.

Student Performance
The Wakefield High School Madrigals opened up the Board meeting with two holiday music selections. It is a longtime tradition for the Board to invite a student group to perform seasonal muic during a December meeting.

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