School Board Updated on Capital Improvement Plan Framework

Updated on ACPD MOU and School-Law Enforcement Partnership

The School Board was provided an update on the work that is underway in developing the FY 2019-28 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).The update provided a summary of the process which includes assessing the impact of projected student growth on APS facilities and managing enrollment growth through capital projects and the timing of projects.  The CIP also considers the financing constraints that impact options for capital projects.The Superintendent’s CIP Framework will identify the scope of, cost construction timeline and financial figures on scenarios.The projects identified in the CIP framework include:

High School Capital Projects

• Ed Center: 500- 600 seats
• Arlington Tech/Career Center site: 800+ seats

Middle School Capital Projects

• Consider options to address projected growth (All locations to be determined)

Elementary School Capital Projects

• Proceed with
  • Reed site
  • School “refresh” for Fall 2019:
    • Drew Model
    • Current Henry building for the Montessori Program
  • Consider new elementary school with 750-seats

A work session is scheduled for April 24 and the Superintendent is expected to present the FY19-28 CIP on May 3. The full presentation is available online.

Memorandum of Understanding and Student Rights
Staff and members of the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) presented the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ACPD and provided an update on student rights and the School-Law Enforcement Partnership.Work on the MOU began last summer using the Virginia School-Law Enforcement MOU as a model. It has been a collaboration between ACPD and APS and feedback was received from parents, community members, administrators and students.

Key elements of the MOU include:

• School discipline is the responsibility of school administration and teachers;
• Defines the roles and responsibilities of the SROs and APS;
• Safety;
• Investigation and Questioning: Interactions; Interviews; Investigations; and
• Searches: Administrative; SRO

A “Know Your Rights” student brochure has also been developed to:

• Provide awareness of the rights of students;
• Educate and empower students;
• Promote active engagement and civic responsibility; and
• Be responsive to community needs

The full presentation is available on BoardDocs.

MONITORING ITEMS:

• Superintendent’s 2018-18 Action Plan Update – Murphy updated the Board on other efforts underway on the action plan to support the Board’s work this year.

The public is invited to learn more, ask questions or comment on any of the action plan engagement initiatives that are underway by visiting aps2016.apsva.us/engage.

• Visual and Performing Arts Update and Program Evaluation – Staff reported the goals and services provided. The report also noted key findings from the program evaluation, student outcomes and recommendations and next steps.

ACTION ITEM:Special Education Annual Plan – The Board approved the annual Special Education Application which is required by the Virginia Department of Education.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

• Construction Contract Award for Yorktown High School Internal Modifications – Staff is asking the Board to approve a construction contract to Bennett Group, Inc. for the amount of $1, 628, 804 for internal modifications to Yorktown High School. Staff is also asking for the Board to approve the total project budget of $3,750,000. The full presentation is available online.
• Acceptable Use: Electronic Technologies Policy – Staff reported that the goal is develop policies and Policy Implementation Procedures for staff and students related to technology usage. More information is available online.

RECOGNIZING FINAL MEETING AT ED CENTER:
Thursday, April 19 was the final School Board meeting date for meetings to be held at the Education Center on Quincy Street. To mark the end of an era, before to the meeting the School Board held a reception for all past School Board members who served on the Board while the central administration and School Board Offices were located in the Ed Center. They were also joined by the past two APS superintendents who still live in Arlington, Dr. Art Gosling (1985-97) and Dr. Rob Smith (1997-2009) to commemorate the final meeting in this location. The group reminisced about their experiences and challenges as past School Board members and then gathered in front of the Board dais for a photo to commemorate the final meeting at the current location. On May 3, the School Board will hold its first meeting at the Syphax Education Center at 2110 Washington Blvd. beginning on May 3. There will be an open house for those who wish to tour the building and a Ribbon Cutting will kick off the beginning of the May 3 meeting in the new School Board Room.

NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 
The next School Board meeting will be held on Thu, May 3 (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 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.