Superintendent’s May 17, 2023 Update

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Dear APS Families:

This week I am sharing updates on the adopted FY 2024 Budget, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey results, and a reminder to share your input on the draft school year calendar development process.

  • Adopted FY 2024 Budget: The FY24 Budget approved by the School Board last Thursday prioritizes staff retention and recruitment, student well-being and academic progress, and school safety and operational efficiency. It invests $25.6 million in compensation, including both a step increase for eligible employees and a 3% cost of living adjustment for all staff. Overall, our employees will receive an average pay increase of 5.26%. The budget prioritizes resources in and for our schools, adding 127.45 full-time positions that are either school-based or directly supporting schools. Learn more about the budget.
  • Share Your Input on the Draft School Year Calendar Policy by May 19: We are developing a policy to strengthen the school year calendar development process. We are creating this policy based on feedback we received following the 2023-24 calendar process. The draft policy is posted for public comment through this Fri, May 19. The feedback received from the community on instructional days, start date and other areas of interest will be used to revise the policy before it is presented to the School Board in August. The community will have another opportunity to provide feedback before it is approved. Email engage@apsva.us with questions.
  • SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Survey Results: On Wed, May 24 families of participating students in grades 3-12 will have access to individual student results of the Panorama Education Student SEL Survey. Families can access their student’s report in ParentVUE beginning on May 24.
  • Naloxone Consent for Students: Next week, I will be sharing more information regarding the ability for students to carry naloxone (Narcan) in school, along with access to consent forms to be completed by parent/guardians that acknowledge that their child has consent to carry naloxone, has received training and that their child agrees to call 911 and notify a school staff member if they administer naloxone in school or as part of a school-sponsored activity.

Next week, I will share updates regarding changes to our COVID practices and policies, in alignment with the May 11 announcement of the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Thank you for your engagement and support as we enter the final weeks of the 2022-23 school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent
Arlington Public Schools