Strategic Governance
In addition to directing school division policy, the Fairfax County School Board governs FCPS through evaluation of the performance of both the school system and the Superintendent.
The School Board provides oversight of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through regular engagement with Division Leadership and through these processes:
- Superintendent Evaluation
- Executive Limitations
- Strategic Plan Goal Reporting
SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION
The School Board delegates operational control of the school system to the Superintendent and will hold the Superintendent accountable. In accordance with Virginia Code and criteria established by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the School Board clarifies the basis and the means for evaluating the performance of both the school system and the Superintendent.
EXECUTIVE LIMITATIONS
While the Mission and Strategic Plan Goals are the major drivers of what happens in the school system, the Board also has concerns about how the system operates. These Executive Limitations express the operational guardrails the Board has for how the Superintendent shall operate the Division to achieve those goals. Executive Limitations are reviewed annually through monitoring reports, submitted by the Superintendent, to ensure compliance with these limitations.
Executive Limitations List
EL-1: Global Executive Limitations
EL-2: Emergency Superintendent Succession
EL-3: Relations with Families and Community Stakeholders
EL-4: Human Resources
EL-5: Financial Planning
EL-6: Financial Administration
EL-7: Asset Protection
EL-8: Superintendent's Relationship with the Board
EL-9: Instructional Program
EL-10: Learning Environment and Relationships with Students
EL-11: Facilities and Transportation
EL-12: Technology
EL-13: Safety and Security
2023-24 Executive Limitations Performance Review
Note: In February 2024, the School Board voted to change the term "Executive Expectation" to "Executive Limitation". The items before the vote are listed as Executive Expectation (EE), while those after the vote are listed as Executive Limitation (EL).
EE-1
Review Date
- 10/12/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
1) That based on the information provided, the Board finds the Superintendent has reasonably interpreted the provisions of the relevant Executive Expectation and is in compliance with the Global Executive Expectation (EE-1) as outlined in the Strategic Governance Manual.
- VOTE: 4-0-6, passed
2) For Dr. Reid to come back at the end of the school year to provide an update on EE#1, Global Expectations
- VOTE: 10-0
Policy Review Motion and Vote
That the School Board maintain Executive Expectation 1, Global Executive Expectation, as it is currently detailed in the Strategic Governance Manual.
- VOTE: 9-0-1
School Board Member Feedback
EE-2
Review Date
- 9/28/2023
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
That the Board finds the Division Superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid, in compliance with EE-2, Emergency Superintendent Succession.
- VOTE: 11-0-0-1
Policy Review Motion and Vote
- None
School Board Member Feedback
EE-3
Review Date
- 10/26/2023
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
1) To revise our process so that forms will be optional while the Governance Committee is considering the EE process and that there will not be a mandatory vote on each Executive Expectation. Without objection, I move to postpone the motion indefinitely.
VOTE: 11-0
2) For the board to fully consider how to provide feedback on Executive Expectations, I move to defer the decision to the next School Board on whether School Board members vote on Executive Expectation Compliance and Policy Reviews and the use of the Executive Expectations forms. The Governance Committee shall discuss various options for accountability on Executive Expectations and the use and content of the form, including consideration of voting on Executive Expectations, and bring recommendations forward for the new 2024-28 Board. This will be discussed at a future work session in preparation for a vote by that Board by February 8, 2024.
In the meantime, the Superintendent will continue providing Executive Expectation Compliance Reports at regular meetings as scheduled and School Board members will offer feedback through the next steps process or an electronic version of the current feedback form which will be attached to the next steps.
VOTE: 11-0
Policy Review Motion and Vote
- None
School Board Member Feedback
EL-4
Review Date
- 5/9/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
EL-5
Review Date
- 3/7/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
- EL-5 Monitoring Report
- Presentation
- Fiscal Forecast
- Proposed Budget
- Proposed Budget Presentation
- Budget Highlights
Performance Review Motion and Vote
That the Board find that the Superintendent has made adequate progress toward compliance with EL-5.
- VOTE: 9-0-2
Policy Review Motion and Vote
That the School Board maintain Executive Limitation 5, Financial Planning, as it is currently detailed in the Strategic Governance Manual.
- VOTE: 9-0-0-2
School Board Member Feedback
EL-6
Review Date
- 4/11/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
EL-7
Review Date
- 6/13/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
EE-8
Review Date
- 11/9/2023
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
- None
Policy Review Motion and Vote
- None
School Board Member Feedback
EE-9
Review Date
- 1/25/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
- None
Policy Review Motion and Vote
- None
School Board Member Feedback
EL-10
Review Date
- 2/22/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
That the Board finds that the Superintendent has made adequate progress toward compliance with EL-10, given completion of the steps outlined in the attached memorandum.
VOTE: 9-1-2
Policy Review Motion and Vote
That the School Board maintain Executive Limitation 10, Learning Environment/Treatment of Students, as it is currently detailed in the Strategic Governance Manual.
- VOTE: 12-0
School Board Member Feedback
EL-11
Review Date
- 4/25/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
EL-12
Review Date
- 5/23/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
EL-13
Review Date
- 4/25/2024
Documentation Provided by Superintendent
Performance Review Motion and Vote
Policy Review Motion and Vote
School Board Member Feedback
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL REPORTING
School Board oversight and monitoring of the Strategic Plan is achieved through regularly scheduled goal reports to demonstrate the work accomplished and the results achieved. Each report provides a comprehensive review of one of the five Strategic Plan goals areas, with a secondary focus on essential updates in the other four goal areas. In addition, the reports outline major Strategic Plan activities for the coming year that are designed to address areas in need of improvement. The monitoring metrics approved by the Board are essential elements of each report to ensure that the initiatives undertaken in the school year adequately address Strategic Plan outcomes. In addition to these reports, the School Board will have the opportunity to annually reassess the plan and make necessary adjustments to content, timelines, and metrics.
Goal reports involve three components – a written draft report, a work session to discuss the draft report, and a public presentation on the final report.
Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 1: Strong Start: Pre-K-12
Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included and Empowered
Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity
Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation
2023-24 Strategic Plan Goal Reporting
| Goal | Work Session Date | Regular Meeting Date | Motion and Vote | Approved Goal Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12/12/2023 | 12/14/2023 | That the School Board approve the Goal 1 Baseline Report as the division’s starting point for the work toward achieving the goals in our Strategic Plan 2023-30. VOTE: 9-3 | Baseline Goal 1 Report |
| 2 | 4/2/2024 | 4/25/2024 | ||
| 3 | 11/14/2023 | 12/4/2023 | That the School Board approve the Goal 3 Baseline Report as the division’s baseline data that will serve as a starting point for the work toward achieving the goals in our Strategic Plan 2023-30. VOTE: 10-1-1 | Baseline Goal 3 Report |
| 4 | 5/7/2024 | 5/23/2024 | ||
| 5 | 3/19/2024 | 4/11/2024 |