School Board Braddock District | Fairfax County Public Schools

Legislative Town Hall Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 6 p.m.

School Board Braddock District 1 hour 20 minutes ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.

Please join me for a town hall with Delegate Laura Jane Cohen (HD-15), Delegate Mark Sickles (HD-17), and Vice Chair and Springfield District School Board Representative Sandy Anderson tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 6 p.m. in Irving Middle School’s Barker Hall/auditorium. The delegates will discuss the 2025 General Assembly Session and their upcoming reconvene session. As the Vice-Chair of Appropriations, Delegate Sickles will give an update on the legislative budget negotiations. Hope to see you there!

Yours very truly,

Rachna Sizemore Heizer

Braddock District School Board Member

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

Braddock District School Board News - March 2025

School Board Braddock District 4 days 9 hours ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Greetings Braddock friends & neighbors!

As we finally head into spring, I hope to see you Out & About at community events, school plays, concerts, games, and fun spring festivals, farmers markets, and any place where live music might be heard!

I had the pleasure of attending opportunities to learn and connect with experts about ways to continually improve our schools. Along with my colleagues, I attended the South by Southwest Education (SXSW EDU) conference and the FCPS Family Summit at South Lakes High School. SXSW EDU had a plethora of learning opportunities, with seminars about the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and how to encourage and support students to overcome a fear of failure in order to learn new things. Too often, the fear of failure stifles the ability to experiment and explore paths in order to embrace new ideas, try new things, and learn from failure as well as celebrate success. We learned about how to equip our students with the skills and knowledge to be successful in a world where many of their jobs do not yet exist.

For many years, I have been a proponent of inclusive education - the research is clear on the benefits for all students, from better academic performance, long term outcomes, and a sense of wellbeing and belonging. Meaningful inclusion - inclusion done right - was the focus of the conferences and the central message from the keynote speakers, Dr. Julie Causton and Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak. Dr. Causton and Dr. Pretti-Frontczak provided a thought-provoking, engaging, and humorous presentation and left us with many resources, including their slides. Please check their website and its many resources! The “keynote” dropdown in the middle of the page links to the resources shared during the Family Summit presentation.

We are in the middle of the budget process - and it looks to be a tough budget year given the uncertain economic times. I appreciate the partnership with the board of supervisors as we work to fund important programs for our county. You can see below for more information on the budget timeline and process.

Many of you have reached out concerned about the proposed cuts to the middle school after school programs. The proposed Fairfax County budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 could eliminate funding for the Middle School After-School (MSAS) program in all 27 Fairfax County middle schools, as well as all middle school Value In Prevention (VIP) Summer camp programs. The program is funded by Fairfax County, not Fairfax County Public Schools. The MSAS program is funded by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and administered by FCPS. FCPS provides late bus transportation four days a week to support this program.

These vital programs provide a safe, supervised learning environment for our children after the school day ends as well as for five weeks every summer. While Fairfax County is facing some tough budget choices amidst uncertain economic times, I hope they will find a path forward to continue to fund this program as it offers invaluable support to students.The MSAS provides a structured and enriching alternative to unsupervised time. Studies consistently demonstrate that students who participate in after-school programs like the MSAS experience numerous benefits, including:

Improved Academic Performance: After-school programs include academic support and enrichment opportunities, leading to better grades and test scores.
Increased School Attendance: Students involved in after-school activities are more likely to attend school regularly.
Improved Behavior: Structured after-school programs contribute to improved behavior.

We are also moving forward with the boundary review work. Thank you to all of those who participated in the community events and/or sent emails or filled out the survey. The consultant is working with the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee on the first set of draft scenarios, which will then be shared with the board and the public for feedback. See below for more information on the boundary review process.

Finally, I know many families are hurting right now due to cuts in federal funding and loss of government, contracting or other related positions. Fairfax County is providing resources to those who need help so please take a look or forward the link below to someone you know who may need help.

The Fairfax County government has compiled resources for former federal employees, contractors, and anyone else affected by job loss. Services include tips on searching and preparing for a new job. Also, financial help is available for many Health and Human Service programs, taxes, and pet-related expenses

Thank you for everything you do to support FCPS students, teachers and staff, schools and communities, and please let me know how I can assist you at any time.

Yours very truly,

Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Braddock District School Board Member

Have something nice to say about an FCPS teacher or other staff? Share it with FCPS CARES.
he FCPS Family Resource Center offers a wealth of free resources including webinars and other events. Learn more.

IN THIS ISSUE …

Focus on Braddock
Music & Arts
Neurodiversity News
From the School Board
FCPS News
Out & About
Coming Up
More Stuff Families Should Know

Focus on Braddock The Secret Garden: The Musical!

Come out to support local live theatre and Fairfax Villa Elementary School’s very own Shane Siegel in Prince William Little Theatre’s production of The Secret Garden: The Musical! Shane, a 6th grade student at the Villa, is playing the role of Colin Craven. The show runs through March 23 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas. Tickets and more info are available here.

Happy 20th Anniversary to RSS Choral Director

The Robinson Secondary School Chorus hosted a Gala Performance on Feb. 9 in honor of Choral Director Mike Horanski’s 20th anniversary. The Robinson Choir was joined by the Robinson Philharmonic to perform Carmina Burana in collaboration with the Vienna Choral Society at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The performance was attended by a packed house of parents, students, alums and friends of Robinson’s music department. The event was a "labor of love” led by Mike Horanski and Anne Rupert, Robinson Orchestra & Philharmonic Director. Congratulations, Mike, and thanks for all you do! More photos are here, and you can watch the full concert here.

Bruins Gymnasts Pull Off a FOURPEAT!

Congratulations to the Lake Braddock High School Gymnastics Team for an incredible accomplishment - a FOURPEAT of wins in this year's district, region and state championships! Senior Madi Bell, the reigning All-Met Gymnast of the Year, earned first place in all-around, beam and uneven bars. Go Bruins!

Additionally, Josh Howat won the VHSL Boys Swim and Dive 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle! Way to go!

Lake Braddock’s High School Concert Bands received their 42nd consecutive Virginia Honor Band Award at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director Association State Concert Band Assessment! They are the only band in the Commonwealth to earn this award every year since its inception. Way to go!

West Springfield’s Boys Indoor Track Team won the VHSL state championship in the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays and Michael Murray won in pole vault! Congratulations!

Woodson High School Boys Basketball Team won the Occoquan Region title! In addition, the Science Olympiad Team won first place in the Nationals-Ready Regional tournament! Congratulations!

Music & Arts

As always, I urge you to support Braddock District high school music and drama programs. Here are links to upcoming shows and tickets.

April 25, 26 and Mary 1-3: Hadestown Teen Edition at Fairfax High School. Tickets go on sale April 1.
May 1-3: The Trojan Women at Lake Braddock High School.
May 8-10: Into the Woods at West Springfield High School.
May (dates TBA): The Little Prince at Lake Braddock Middle School.
May (dates TBA): Everlasting at Robinson Secondary School.

Neurodiversity News

Sadly, neurodiverse kids hear much more about the challenges they experience than the good things they bring to the table. Learning to explore strengths with your child is a healthy activity for everyone involved. I love this mental health professional’s blog post about how to do that, and I especially loved this tip which speaks to me personally:

Some neurodivergent children have an exceptional eye for detail and a knack for spotting patterns others might overlook. These abilities often shine in areas like math, science, music, or even visual puzzles, where precision and insight are vital.

From the School Board Joint Budget Committee Meeting With Board of Supervisors and School Board

On Feb. 25 the School Board held a joint Budget Committee meeting with the Board of Supervisors in which the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Fairfax County and Fairfax County Public Schools Advertised Budgets were discussed. View the FY 2026 Fairfax County Advertised Budget presentation and the FY 2026 FCPS Advertised Budget presentation.

Watch the meeting.

Strategic Governance Manual Edits

The School Board voted to approve the edits to the Community Advisory Committee Operating Manual, Strategic Governance Manual, and Policy 1710 at the March 13 regular meeting.

Watch the full meeting.

Proclamations

I was pleased to sponsor the Neurodiversity Affirmation Proclamation and also support these proclamations at the Board’s February 20 and March 13 regular meetings.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

March 27, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
April 1, 10 a.m. - Public Engagement Committee
April 1, 3 p.m. - Governance Committee
April 8, 10:30 a.m. - All Day Work Session
April 10, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
April 24, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting

How to Follow the Work of the School Board

View this link for a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings and associated information.
Click here for meeting logistics, agendas and handouts (to view the slides and materials, click on the particular agenda item, and scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.

All Board and Committee meetings are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99, and are available to view later at the FCPS School Board YouTube page.

FCPS News Cameras Installed on School Bus Stop Arms

Cameras have been installed on the stop arms of 50 FCPS school buses. These cameras will be used to identify drivers who pass stopped school buses while children are entering and exiting the bus (called a “stop arm violation”).

Warnings for drivers will begin on Wednesday, April 9. After a 30-day warning period, citations will begin to be issued on Monday, May 12.

According to Virginia law, drivers must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights on and their stop signs extended. Motorists should stop when approaching from any direction (unless there is a barrier or median separating their lane from where the bus is stopped). They should remain stopped until everyone is clear and the bus is moving.

We appreciate our law enforcement partners for working with us to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Read more information about the stop arm cameras and all of the ways that we work with our county partners to keep students safe on their way to and from school.

CPS Budget — Our Students Deserve the Best

More than $240 million of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget is dedicated to increasing compensation for our teachers and staff to stay competitive and reduce turnover. Currently, FCPS ranks fifth out of eight neighboring districts in regards to starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree.

Our families expect — and our students deserve — the best teachers. An excellent education requires excellent teachers.

Next Steps in the Budget Process

The next steps in the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process include the School Board presenting the budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 22, and then the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Community members can submit testimony or sign up to speak.

Visit the county government website to view the Fairfax County FY 2026 Advertised Budget. The community is also invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the county’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process.

The Comprehensive School Boundary Review Process Explained

Want to learn more about the ongoing Comprehensive School Boundary Review process? Watch this video for explanations of terms such as attendance zones, attendance islands, split feeders, and other factors that affect school boundaries. The video will also be available in other languages soon.

Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.

Key Takeaways from the Superintendent’s 2/21 Boundary Review Advisory Committee Meeting

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met on Friday, February 21, at the Gatehouse Administration Center. As part of our commitment to transparency, we will continue to provide an update on the committee's work following each meeting.

Key takeaways from Friday’s meeting include:

Welcome: Dr. Reid welcomed the group and reminded the committee that at the next meetings, the first two scenarios will be reviewed, including the evaluation of 6th grade in middle school, and a scenario that assumes all students attend the school that they are zoned to attend based on the current boundary.
Education Session: The committee received presentations from FCPS staff related to school programs, the student transfer policy, and student membership projections.
Community Feedback Data Review: Thru Consulting shared that summaries from virtual community meetings are available and reviewed how the summaries are organized.
Closing

Please visit FCPS’ website to access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received. You may also learn about the Comprehensive Boundary Review and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.

Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! This spring, a series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. These events are an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:

Thursday, March 20, Cunningham Park Elementary School
Monday, March 24, Kings Park Elementary School
Tuesday, April 1, Lorton Station Elementary School
Monday, April 7, Greenbriar West Elementary School
Monday, April 21, Mount Eagle Elementary School
Wednesday, April 23, Freedom Hill Elementary School

Events are open to all. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Click on the date to register for that event. Additional registration links will be shared in the near future and will be posted to our webpage along with other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Review Potential K-12 Mathematics Instructional Resources

FCPS will begin using new mathematics instructional resources for the 2025-26 (secondary) and 2026-27 (elementary) school years. The community is invited to review materials and provide comments. Access resources on the FCPS Mathematics webpage.

You may view hard copies of instructional materials on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, March 21, at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr., Suite 100.

All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with the Fairfax County School Board members before the board votes in spring 2025.

Give Your Kids a Strong Start: Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs

FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors ages 6 weeks to 4 years living in Fairfax County.

Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30. Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and parents/guardians of children 6 weeks to 2 years old.

Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, however, space is limited and provided based on need, not “first come, first serve.” Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail, or in person at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).

✨ The availability of pre-K programs to meet community need is part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 1: Strong Start.

Collective Bargaining in FCPS Benefits the Entire Community

Fairfax County Public Schools has engaged with employees in collective bargaining in pursuit of balance and fairness, which has always been a core driver of success at FCPS.

Collective bargaining benefits the entire Fairfax community by reducing teacher turnover, improving the quality of education, and fostering strong school communities. High teacher turnover is expensive for school districts due to the costs of recruitment, hiring, and training new staff.

While fair compensation is a priority, unions also advocate for smaller class sizes, better resources, and policies that directly benefit students and families.

Collective bargaining will not result in the inability to address employee performance or to enact appropriate disciplinary action. Also, under state law, FCPS employees are not permitted to strike.

Learn more about FCPS unions and collective bargaining.

70th Annual Regional Science Fair

The 70th Annual Regional Science Fair will take place at Robinson Secondary School the weekend of March 21-23.

The fair is open to the public on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 1-3 p.m., during the Open House. Community members are invited to see the project displays and congratulate our high school student participants.

Visit the science fair webpage for more information.

Out & About

In February I travelled to Austin, Texas, with some of my colleagues for the one-of-a-kind South-by-Southwest.EDU conference!

At the FCPS 2025 Family Summit on March 15 with School Board colleagues (l-r) Ilryong Moon (at-large), Robyn Lady (Dranesville), Marcia St. John-Cunning (Franconia).

With Mr. Moon at the Virginia State Championship for girls gymnastics! Congratulations to The Lake Braddock girls for a FOUR-peat and to Maddie Bell for winning the all around title!

Finally, here are some highlights from my recent visits to Frost Middle School, Kings Park Elementary School, Laurel Ridge Elementary School and Woodson High School. I enjoyed seeing the thoughtful presentations on the walls, including a touching memorial to the lost figure skaters who tragically died when American Airlines flight 5342 crashed with a U.S. Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport. I loved watching the learning in action and the enthusiasm of students and teachers alike.

Supporting physical activity as part of learning at Laurel Ridge elementary school.

The entryway to Carter G. Woodson high school, with the gorgeous mural of Carter G. Woodson.

I love this student’s ideas of what she would do if she was President of the United States. The ending is my favorite part.

A touching memorial to the victims of DC Flight 5342 and the Black Hawk helicopter crash.

Coming Up Hazel Health: Virtual Therapy for High School Students

Teletherapy services are available for all FCPS high school students at no cost. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Hazel Health’s highly qualified therapists specialize in working with teens. Learn more on FCPS’ teletherapy webpage.

More Stuff Families Should Know Become Unskippable: Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens About Fentanyl

Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. But young people die from fentanyl overdoses in Fairfax County each year — so it's important to have short, impactful talks with your teen, whether or not you think they’re at risk.

As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to become “unskippable” and talk with your teen in a way they will listen.

See our tips for talking with your teen about fentanyl and other difficult subjects. Watch this video to learn more about becoming unskippable.

🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu

Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.

The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:

Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
Clean frequently touched surfaces.

According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.

Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Student Bus Passes Offer Free Transportation All Year

All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and City of Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Learn more about the Student Pass and view the middle school, high school, and alternative learning center bus routes.

Complete the application and return it to your school office. Parent/guardian consent is required.

Information for Caregivers on Eating Disorders

In 2013, Virginia passed a law requiring every school system to provide information annually to parents/caregivers of students in grades 5-12. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023):

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a webpage with detailed information and resources about eating disorders. In addition to the information on the FCPS website, the National Eating Disorders Association has a toll-free, confidential Helpline: 1-800-931-2237.

Building and Maintaining Effective Communication with Your Children

Many families struggle with communication. It's rarely about big arguments, but often, it's the general daily interactions where connection falters. It is those missed cues, unsaid feelings, and misunderstood intentions that create barriers. Effective communication builds trust and understanding. It is greater than simply talking more to your children, and it definitely takes some thought and work on the part of parents to make it happen. Practical strategies to improve communication with your children to build strong, lasting relationships include

Adjusting Communication to Your Child's Age and Development
Creating a Safe Space for Open Communication
Putting Away Distractions and Setting Aside Time for Communication
Listening Actively and Validating Feelings
Shifting the Focus from "What" to "How"
Making Use of "I" Statements
Making Use of Open-Ended Questions
Tapping into Their Interests
Remaining Patient and Persistent

I’m hiring! Looking for a District Director!

School Board Braddock District 2 weeks 6 days ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

I’m hiring for a District Director! This position serves as Chief of Staff for the Braddock School Board District Office.

This is a great opportunity for someone with experience working in federal, state, or local government agencies, or with experience as a legislative aide or chief of staff for local, state, or federal elected officials, or with experience working in communications, public administration, and other similar jobs.

Interested or know anyone who might be interested?

Here is the link to apply: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25103&siteid=5042&PageType=JobDetails&jobid=1480243

The Director, District Board Operations, will perform the full range of professional duties and oversee administrative functions required to support activities, projects, and initiatives related to the School Board. In addition, the Director, District Board Operations will serve as a liaison on behalf of individual Board members in communications between constituents, community organizations, Division leadership and staff, and varied elected officials.

The Director, District Board Operations will report directly to the School Board Member. This position is at will and subject to annual renewal.

Qualifications

Required

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in political science, journalism, communications, public administration, or relevant field.
Three (3) years of experience in high level strategic, analytical, and/or supervisorial functions to support research and policy analysis, constituent services, legislative support, communications and community relations, or other similar projects, and initiatives.

Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience.

Knowledge of the principles, and practices of administrative, business, or legislative office management.
Knowledge of how to maintain and optimize social media vehicles, to include technical skills and ability to determine appropriate content to share.
Familiarity with the functions and activities of county, state, and federal agencies.
Proficiency in the use of office technology, including spreadsheet, presentation, and desktop publishing software.
Proficiency with data compilation, analysis, and reporting.
Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Ability to deal tactfully and respectfully at all levels.
Ability to work under pressure to meet time constraints and deadlines.
Ability to communicate in a manner that is clear, informative, and accessible - both verbally and in writing - to multiple audiences and stakeholders, using correct grammar, punctuation, and content structure.

Preferred

Bachelor's degree.
Some professional or substantive volunteer experience in public education or government relations environment.
Knowledge of public education mission, organization, instructional goals, and curriculum practices.
Skill in working with BoardDocs.
Proficiency in using GovDelivery or similar newsletter or email subscription management system and analyzing associated outreach data.

Salary:

$121,535

Closing Date

March 17, 2025

As always, please feel free to reach out any time if we can be of any assistance!

Rachna

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

Applications for Staff Assistant Now Being Accepted!

School Board Braddock District 1 month ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Braddock Friends & Neighbors -

I am thrilled to announce a new opening for a Staff Assistant in the Braddock District School Board Office! This person will play a critical role in helping me help you and the rest of Braddock's constituents. I'm looking for a special person to join the team who has strong organizational skills and a passion for public education. Click the image below or scan the QR code for more information, and consider applying today!

Yours very truly,

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

Braddock District School Board News - February 2025

School Board Braddock District 1 month 1 week ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Greetings Braddock Friends & Neighbors -

Even though I can see many inches of snow outside, we are close, so close, to spring. Yet, we must endure P Phil’s prognostications for a bit longer. As soon as I finish this, I am heading out to shovel my too long driveway. I hope your shoveling is easy, your sledding is fast and furious, and your snowmen are beautiful!

Remember to check the FCPS School Closings Page for current information about school openings as we make our way to warmer weather.

There is much to discuss in this February message to you, FCPS stakeholders, so please bear with me.

Addressing Boundary Rumors

First, I want to try to address rumors and misinformation circulating throughout the community regarding the Boundary Review Project.

Please understand there have been no formal discussions about scenarios, maps, or specific changes to any boundaries thus far. There are no secret maps nor are there imminent plans to change boundaries. The consultant, the Superintendent, and the Advisory Committee are still gathering information and community feedback and working through the process. I encourage you to share your thoughts and concerns and stay up-to-date on the project by signing up for the Boundary Project newsletter.

The project is still in the data collection/public engagement phase.

The tentative timeline is as follows:

First round of draft scenarios by June, followed by additional public input on those draft scenarios.
The consultant will then create updated draft scenarios taking into account that public input in the fall/early winter of 2025. These would be made publicly available.
The board approval process would be completed in the spring of 2026.
You can see the full consultant’s timeline (slide 5, page 11) and presentation.

No decisions have been made about potential changes, nor are any decisions imminent.

You can find more information about the process, the School Board policy guiding it, and opportunities for public engagement on the Boundary Project website.

FCPS is in a 42 year school renovation cycle, which is well beyond the best practices of 25 years and we need to maximize the use of our resources and minimize the use of trailers. This is the first time in four decades that boundaries have been looked at holistically across the county. We are hoping to address capacity concerns, shorten transportation times (and thus allow for better student sleep), keep neighborhoods together to promote student and family engagement, and improve access to programming. In addition, I hope this review will open the door to the possibilities of new programs and better access to educational opportunities and advancements.

The goal of this boundary review is not to undo changes of the past nor change boundaries just for the sake of changing boundaries. The purpose is to take a holistic and county wide look at school boundaries to best set us up for the future. We are committed to doing our best to minimize the impact on students, keep communities together, and work together and transparently with the community throughout this review process.

If you have other specific questions, please let me know. I am always happy to answer!

Grieving Together

I continue to extend my love and support to the friends, family and colleagues of those whose lives were cut tragically short by the recent aviation incident at Reagan National Airport, as well as to the entire community.

My thoughts are with loved ones of the crash victims who are grieving this enormous loss. Along with our community, I mourn the lives cut short, including those promising young figure skaters who deserved much more time to shine.

FCPS has made support available to our students, families, and staff and I am grateful to the FCPS staff who are caring for those in our FCPS community impacted by this tragedy. I also want to thank the first responders responding at the scene and those caring for the loved ones of the victims.

There are no words to describe this immeasurable loss. I hope our community can come together to express our sorrow in solidarity with and comfort for one another at this incredibly difficult time.

Happy Black History Month in February

I am honored to celebrate the history and culture of Black Americans and achievements that Black Americans have contributed to U.S. history and, closer to home, to our FCPS community.

It is also an important time to recognize the importance of studying the full history of Black Americans, from achievements and culture, to the terrible realities and continuing impacts of slavery and segregation.

Understanding our full history is the best way of not repeating mistakes of the past and building towards a better future. I was pleased to support and make the motion to approve the School Board’s Black History Month Proclamation for 2025.

Student Safety & Security Concerns

I have heard from many constituents who are concerned about the safety and security of FCPS students given the new presidential administration's policies and plans around immigration enforcement. Emphatically, I share your concerns. FCPS’ policies prevent information sharing unless required by valid state or federal law or regulation, judicial warrant, court order or subpoena. We are exploring all options within the law to keep all our students safe and remain strongly committed to protecting our students and staff and providing a safe environment for each and every student.

I would also refer you to the Superintendent’s recent message to the community on this topic. More information about FCPS policies, as well as information for immigrant families, is available here.

Budget & Capital Improvement Program

I want to again express my support for FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid's proposed advertised FY2026 budget, which includes a 7% pay increase for all teachers and staff as the primary strategy to maintain and build upon the quality of education the school system is able to provide.

Excellent schools require excellent teachers. This budget places a significant priority on recruiting and retaining teachers as the driver of student success, with compensation increases that are in line with our surrounding jurisdictions. We cannot fall behind our surrounding jurisdictions without risking losing our best teachers and staff.

FCPS’ fiscally responsible proposed budget presents what is needed to maintain our current level of educational services. We are at a crossroads with respect to the quality of our public schools and as a community must decide if we want to continue the excellence for which FCPS is known. We are confident our community and elected leaders believe in the power and promise of our schools and will continue to fund this important community resource.

The next step in the budget process is that Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill will present his Advertised Budget on Tuesday, February 18, and the School Board will also hold a budget work session that day. On Thursday, February 20, the School Board will adopt its FY 2026 Advertised Budget. And on Tuesday, February 25, the School Board and Board of Supervisors will hold a joint meeting to discuss the budget. The complete FY 2026 Budget Development Calendar is available online.

In addition, the School Board recently approved the 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which represents progress but also significant challenges for our system. While the CIP includes more than $8 billion in spending for our school facilities, it isn’t enough. We are currently facing a 42-year backlog in school renovations, meaning our kids are falling farther behind in infrastructure needs to support their futures.

Thank you for everything you do to support FCPS students, teachers and staff, schools and communities, and please let me know how I can assist you at any time.

Yours very truly,

Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Braddock District School Board Member

Have something nice to say about an FCPS teacher or other staff? Share it with FCPS CARES
The FCPS Family Resource Center offers a wealth of free resources including webinars and other events. Learn more.

IN THIS ISSUE …

Focus on Braddock
Music & Arts
Neurodiversity News
From the School Board
FCPS News
Out & About
Coming Up
More Stuff Families Should Know

Focus on Braddock Community Expertise Needed Needed for Facilities Committee

Facilities expertise needed! I am currently seeking Braddock District residents who would be interested in serving as an appointee to the FCPS Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC) for the remainder of the current term through June 30.

This important committee advises and informs FCPS staff and the School Board in the development of comprehensive, long-term plans for facilities. FPAC consists of 13 members, one from each Fairfax County magisterial district, three at-large representatives, and one representative from the City of Fairfax, each appointed for three-year terms.

FCPS encourages people with experience in construction, engineering, architecture, land use planning, development, demographics, government operations, and financing to apply. Applicants must live in the Braddock magisterial district.

Applications must be submitted by Feb. 21 to [email protected].

More information about FPAC and an application is available online.

Woodson High & TJHSST Win Highest Achievement Exemplar Awards

Super congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology and Woodson High School for being named as 2024-25 Highest Achievement Exemplar Awards winners from the Virginia Department of Education.

Of the award, Woodson Principal Kevin Greata recently said in a school newsletter, "When you review the award criteria, it becomes clear that this accomplishment is only possible through the collective efforts of our students, staff, and families. It truly takes a village to ensure all our students succeed. Thank you to our families for your partnership in meeting the requirements for this incredible honor!"

The Key Center also received a Continuous Improvement Exemplar award! To all involved, including students and caregivers as well as teachers and staff, well done!

View the full list of awards.

Irving Middle School Student and Teacher Selected for Prestigious JASON Argonaut Program

I was thrilled to learn that Irving Middle School eighth-grader and Braddock District resident Adelaide Schmitz, has been selected along with Irving physical science teacher Marissa Bossard to participate in the JASON’s Argonaut STEM program! They will be a part of a prestigious group of just 10 invited teachers and 10 students to travel to Portland, Oregon, to participate in the annual event. Congratulations, and go Horsemen!

Congratulations to Braddock’s VHSL Champions

Prior to the School Board meeting on Feb. 6, we had the opportunity to celebrate our Virginia High School League (VHSL) champions. Congratulations to the talented FCPS students, staff, and teams recognized by VHSL for the fall 2024 season, especially those from schools attended by students who live in the Braddock District:

Robinson Secondary School, Class 6 Girls Cross Country Champion.
Robinson Secondary School, Class 6 Cheerleading Champion.
Woodson High School. Esports Fall Season-Rocket League Tournament Champion.
Falls Church High School Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Selected Performing Ensemble Group.

Lake Braddock High School Symphony Orchestra, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
West Springfield High School Wind Symphony, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
Woodson High School Wind Ensemble, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
Robinson Secondary School Symphonic Band, 78th Midwest International Band Clinic Selected Performance Ensemble.
Frost Middle School, FCPS Boys Cross Country Champions.
Frost Middle School, FCPS Girls Cross Country Champions.

Robinson Students Participate in Senator Pekarsky’s Youth Leadership Program

Several students from Robinson Secondary School were among 16 from FCPS schools to participate in State Senator Stella Pekarsky’s High School Youth Leadership Program for the 2025 Legislative session in January. This program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to visit Richmond during the Virginia General Assembly's legislative session and learn about political leadership on the state level. Students engaged in hands-on learning as they observed committee hearings and floor debates, toured the state capitol, participated in panels with advocates, lobbyists, and political leaders, and met lawmakers and their staff. They were also introduced by Senator Pekarsky on the Senate Floor. This was a great opportunity for our students to learn about future careers in government, politics, or law. Civics education is very important to me, and leadership matters now more than ever.

Five Braddock District Schools Awarded Purple Star

Five Braddock District elementary schools were among just 38 FCPS schools to receive the coveted VDOE Purple Star Designation, which is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. To qualify for a Purple Star, schools must meet rigorous requirements including having a dedicated point of contact for military students and families, engaging in professional learning and providing resources and programming on issues important to military families. Each Purple Star School must also have an active peer-led transition team, such as Student Ambassadors, to welcome new military-connected students and support their transition and connection to their new school community.

With more than 13,500 military-connected students in FCPS, maintaining strong partnerships is critical to our collective success. Here are the Braddock District schools now designated with Purple Stars:

Little Run Elementary
Oak View Elementary,
Olde Creek Elementary,
Ravensworth Elementary, and
Fairview Elementary.

FCPS CARES

The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. Staff and teachers at the following schools attended by Braddock students have been recognized this month through FCPS CARES for something wonderful they did in January or February:

Lake Braddock Secondary School;
The Woodson High School complex;
Bryant High School;
Fairfax High School; and
West Springfield High School.

Here's what one parent had to say about Sheryl Arenholz, school counselor at West Springfield High School: “(Sheryl) is being recognized by Academy Resource Teachers (ARTs) for her exceptional support of students with IEPs. At the beginning of the year, she met with the West Potomac Academy Counselor, and ARTs to thoroughly explain the severe mental health challenges a student was facing and explained in detail the plan to support the student across base school and academy settings. Because of this continuum of support, the senior was finally able to attend a medical academy class after years of aspiration. Sheryl Arenholz is the GOAT!"

Read the full list of FCPS CARES recognitions here.

Music & Arts “Once Upon a One More Time” at Fairfax Academy

With Springfield District School Board Member Sandy Anderson at "Once Upon a One More Time."

I recently joined my school board colleague Sandy Anderson, Springfield District, to enjoy "Once Upon a One More Time" at the Fairfax Academy for Communications & the Arts. It was an incredibly well done professional production. It's hard to believe they put that together in five weeks.

The acting was superb, the dance numbers energetic, and fun, the singing amazing, and the timing impeccable. I'm so impressed by our students and the staff who supported and directed them in this amazing production.

I expected a jukebox musical set to Britney Spears music to be energetic and fun, but I didn't expect a really thoughtful, clever, and nuanced story around it.

If you are or have a high school student, check out the academy for some really cool offerings in musical theater, dance, communications, music technology production, and more!

Check out the FCPS fine arts calendar for lots of productions coming up!

Upcoming Performances

Support the arts in our public schools! Here are upcoming music and theatre performances you may wish to attend:

Lake Braddock Theatre – Cinderella, Feb. 13-15
Robinson Middle School – Seussical: The Musical, Feb. 14-16, 20-22
Annandale High School

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology - Big Fish, April 25-26, May 3
West Springfield High School - Into the Woods, May 8-10

Neurodiversity News What is the Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans?

We often get asked about the differences between 504 plans and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), so here are some information and useful links:

504 Plan: A 504 plan to ensure accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. The authority arises from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a federal law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities. A student needs to have a disability that significantly impacts their ability to learn or participate in school activities to qualify for a 504 plan. A 504 plan typically focuses on providing accommodations to help a student be successful, such as extra time on tests, preferential seating, or access to assistive technology.

More information is available here and here.

IEP: Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law, eligible children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. An individualized education plan or IEP is usually written in conjunction with the school team, parents/caregivers, and the student to ensure the student with an identified disability receives necessary specialized instruction and related services.

The following are commonly in an IEP:

The involvement and progress of the child with a disability in the general curriculum.
All related services for which the child qualifies.
Appropriate educational accommodations necessary for the child to be successful.
The child's present levels of educational performance.
Measurable annual goals and objectives for the child's education.

More information is available here.

For some good articles about the differences between 504s and IEPS, check out these links:

FCPS Resources:

Sign Up for the FCPS Special Education and 504 Newsletter
Special Education Instruction | Fairfax County Public Schools - lots of good information, including a link to the Transition Toolkit for Families
FCPS Special Education Handbook
FCPS 504 Handbook
FCPS Twice Exceptional (2e) Handbook
Forms Related to Special Education | Fairfax County Public Schools

Applications Being Accepted for Student Rep to Fairfax County School Board

Serving as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board is an incredible leadership opportunity. Please consider sharing with qualified students in your household!

The School Board student representative speaks for the interests of FCPS students. The student representative is not a full member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity. Students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply.

Watch the video below to learn about the experience from the current representative, Megan Sawant.

Application Information and Deadlines:

- To be considered for the election, students are required to provide the following:

- A written component is due Monday, Feb. 24.

- A 30-second candidate video statement is due Wednesday, March 26. Candidates will be emailed a link to record their video on Monday, March 17.

Both application components are required to be considered for the election. Read more about the election process.

Upcoming Board & Committee Meetings

Thursday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. - Comprehensive Planning & Development Committee
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2-4 p.m. - Governance Committee
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 5-8:30 p.m. - Budget Committee (full School Board)
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 3 p.m. - Joint BOS/SB Budget Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 11, 10:30 a.m. - All Day Work Session

How to Follow the Work of the School Board

View this link for a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings and associated information.
Click here for meeting logistics, agendas and handouts (to view the slides and materials, scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.

All Board and Committee meetings are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99, and are available to view later at the FCPS School Board YouTube page.

FCPS News FCPS Proposed Budget Progress

The Fairfax County School Board discussed FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at our work session on February 4. We discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.

The School Board also held a public hearing on Feb. 4, at which the community was invited to share its feedback on the proposed budget.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s advertised budget, and the School Board will hold a work session on the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View FCPS’ Budget Development Calendar.

Breaking Down the Budget

More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff.

Our families want their children in high-quality schools with the best teachers who provide rigorous academic experiences. We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.

The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage. Visit the Budget webpage for more information.

FCPS’ Proposed Construction Projects Offer Community-Wide Benefits

Fairfax County Public Schools’ updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.

The proposed CIP was presented to the School Board at the Jan. 14 work session. A public hearing was also held Jan. 14. The School Board approved the proposed CIP at its Thursday, Feb. 6 meeting.

Students Invited to Share Their Voices at the 2025 Family Summit

The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information.

At the event, FCPS students are invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities.

Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, Feb. 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions.

Out & About Speech & Debate Tournament at Robinson Secondary

I had a fantastic time at Robinson Secondary School on Feb. 1 watching many FCPS students compete in the speech and debate tournament! I was very impressed by the students' poise, well researched, persuasive, and thoughtful arguments and the maturity they demonstrated.

There were many different ways to participate, from improv, to debate on a topic of national or international interest, to creating and delivering your own persuasive speech.

Critical thinking and analysis, communication, listening to others, and the ability to craft an argument based on research and then persuade others are all critical skills that students can gain through speech and debate and that will set them up for success in college and the workplace.

I am always so impressed by our students!

With student speech and debate competitors at Robinson Secondary School.

Kings Park/Kings Glen PTA Meeting

Thanks to the Kings Park/Kings Glen PTA for inviting me to visit with them on Feb. 7 and share what we are working on currently - facilities, budget, boundaries, middle school start times, advanced math, and more. What a great, committed group of caregivers!

With a fabulous group of caregivers at the Kings Park/Kings Glen Elementary PTA meeting.

VSBA Conference & Legislator Visits

Part of my job as a school board member involves advocating for FCPS with other local and state elected leaders. I was honored to participate in the Virginia School Board Association's (VSBA) Capital Conference at the end of January and visit with several members of NOVA's General Assembly Delegation.

In Richmond with Delegates Jennifer Carroll Foy and Laura Jane Cohen, and Springfield District School Board Member Sandy Anderson (left to right).

Coming Up Other February Observances President’s Day Closure

Mark your calendars for Monday, Feb. 17, as FCPS will be closed in recognition of Presidents’ Day.

Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a national holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797.

National School Counseling Week Feb. 3-7

I am so grateful for the kindness and expertise of FCPS' school counselors. School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills. School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, parents, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.

If your child's school counselor has helped in any way, reach out this National School Counseling Week with a card or email to let them know their work matters!

Crossing Guard Appreciation Day Feb. 12

You know we love our school crossing guards! I join with other states, municipalities, and school districts around the country recognizing National Crossing Guard Awareness Day on Feb. 12 in honor of the invaluable contributions crossing guards make in keeping children, families and communities safe and sound. If you see the crossing guard at your child’s school this week, give them a special thumbs-up!

Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs

Looking for a job or volunteer opportunity? Students are invited to attend the 2025 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series and Career Building Workshops kicking off Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at West Springfield High School and on Saturday, March 15, at Chantilly High School from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

At each fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. During the fairs, students will also be able to attend career-building workshops like Resume Building and Interviewing 101. Most positions at the fair are geared toward students age 16+, but some opportunities for younger students may be available with parental consent. Registration is free here and at the fairs.

For more information, or to register, please visit the Teen Job Fair webpage.

Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Lottery Applications Open Until March 6

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is open through Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion program for the 2025-26 school year.

Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Interested parents/caregivers may want to attend an informational meeting at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.

2025 Camp Fairfax Registration Opens in March!

Registration dates are alphabetical by the Camp Fairfax elementary school (ES) and/or community center name.

Beginning Tuesday, March 11:

Sites beginning with letters A - D (Aldrin ES – Dogwood ES)

Beginning Wednesday, March 12:

Sites beginning with letters F - H (Fairfax Villa ES – Hutchison ES)

Beginning Thursday, March 13:

Sites beginning with letters J - M (James Lee Community Center – Mott Community Center)

Beginning Friday, March 14:

Sites beginning with letters N - W (Navy ES – Woodlawn ES)

More Information

More Stuff Families Should Know Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACDS) Seeking Awards Nominations

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. The First-Class Awards are presented annually to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive student outcomes. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education.

Nominees should demonstrate the following skills/criteria:

Modelling excellence in their role relative to special education
Positive impact that benefits disabled and non-disabled students alike
Commitment to creating an inclusive environment and mindset

Up to 14 awards in the seven categories include:

Elementary: Teacher, Administrator, Student and School Support Staff (instructional assistant (IA), office staff, librarian, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc.)
Middle, High School & Secondary: Teacher, Administrator, Student and School Support Staff (IA, office staff, librarian, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc.)
Central Office: Any FCPS central office staff member (superintendent, assistant superintendent, executive principal, director, coordinator, specialist, resource teacher, administrative support, etc.)
Specialty Program Staff: Anyone assigned to a public day school, alternative school, home based instruction, or other FCPS educational program not clearly defined as an elementary, middle, high, or secondary school
Specialist: Professional staff categorized as related service providers (speech language pathologist, counselor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, itinerant, etc.)
Team: Any team of two or more staff members who work together to support special education students, whether directly or indirectly. This award is not specific to a role, it may be awarded to any staff team (ex. administrators, teachers, related services, etc.)
Community Partner: Any person or organization not employed by FCPS which contributes to excellence in special education

Complete this form to nominate an administrator, a staff member, or a student who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close on February 19, 2025. Contact Diana Ree-Reeder ([email protected]) for more information.

What Families Can Do to Fight Drug Misuse

FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.

What can families do?

Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage.
Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors.
Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”

Get more information on opioid awareness.

Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!

Ombuds staff engage with FCPS employees, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.

Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements between parents/caregivers and schools. They do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.

Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email [email protected], or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question.

Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations

Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!

Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

February 4, 2025 Public Hearing on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget

School Board Braddock District 1 month 3 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

The Fairfax County School Board welcomes public comment on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget at a Public Hearing. This public hearing is scheduled to take place at the Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

The Speaker's List opened at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025 and is now open through 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2025. The Fairfax County School Board Office will notify speakers (via email) the morning of February 4, 2025.

Register to Speak at the Budget Public Hearing (in-person or live via Zoom)
FY 2026 Proposed Budget
Information on Speaking at School Board Meetings
Watch School Board meetings and public hearings.

Any questions, written statements, and copies of testimony may be submitted to [email protected].

FY 2026 Proposed Budget Timeline

Division Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid presented the FY 2026 Proposed Budget to the School Board at the January 23, 2025 regular meeting.
The School Board will hold work sessions on the proposed budget on February 4, 2025 and February 18, 2025.
The School Board will hold a public hearing on February 4, 2025.
The School Board will take action to approve the Advertised Budget at the February 20, 2025 regular meeting.

Upcoming Regular School Board Meeting

The next regular board meeting will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Luther Jackson Middle School, at 7:00 p.m.

The Fairfax County School Board

Joint Statement About Proposed FY2026 Budget; Math Resources Review Volunteers Needed

School Board Braddock District 2 months ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Proposed FY2026 Budget Released Includes 7 percent raise for all teachers and staff

JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING FCPS’ PROPOSED FY2026 BUDGET
School Board Budget Committee Chair Kyle McDaniel, Member At-Large,
and Vice Chair Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Braddock District

As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee for the School Board, we want to take this opportunity to share our perspective on the Superintendent's proposed budget and the current fiscal moment.

We are facing a tremendous funding gap from the state, as well as escalating student needs as our population changes, with the continued expectation that FCPS provide the best public education in America. Our schools are an important economic driver for the County and often cited as a major reason businesses and families relocate here. Schools today are expected to do much more than they have in the past - from providing meals, addressing root causes of absenteeism, engaging families, providing technology, and acting as community centers. Finally, as we have learned more about what our students need, demand for new and different services have increased, from the mental health resources that we make available to all students to a higher percentage of students who require greater levels of support. While maintaining high educational standards, our teachers and principals are also expected, much like our public safety professionals, to serve as social workers, counselors, technology experts, and security personnel while engaging families at higher levels than before.

We must also recognize the fiscal reality that we find ourselves in. Local taxpayers understandably are fatigued. We recognize that, more than ever, we must be good stewards of public funds. In preparing this budget, the Superintendent has considered ways that she can save costs and provide services in a more efficient manner. That consideration is something that we welcome as School Board Members and it will be a part of the dialogue we have with her. We know also that our partners in the state legislature and at the County Board of Supervisors believe in strong schools and are committed to funding them. We understand the realities they face and we are committed to being responsible partners.

As a commitment to managing resources effectively, FCPS’s overhead is much lower than surrounding jurisdictions while the bulk of our staff directly supports students in the classroom. FCPS has the lowest ratio of central administrative staff in the region and the second lowest ratio of school-based administrative staff in the region (WABE Guide). FCPS spends below the median per pupil cost for school systems in the region. We are also the lowest in the region in terms of teachers to school-based administrators - for every 100 teachers, there are less than five administrators providing support and professional development.

We recognize that excellent schools require excellent teachers. This budget places a significant priority on recruiting and retaining teachers as the driver of student success, with compensation increases that are in line with our surrounding jurisdictions. We cannot fall behind our surrounding jurisdictions without risking losing our best teachers and staff.

Read the Full Budget Presentation

Volunteers Sought for Math Resources Review

Are you interested in participating in the review of potential K-12 Mathematics resources? FCPS is engaging the basal resource (e.g., textbooks, online materials) adoption process for K-12 Mathematics, and I am seeking a community member to participate on this committee. The process, governed by Regulation 3004.5, includes a 30 day public review period and a deep review by an Instructional Resource Review Committee (IRRC), made up of representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups - teachers, administrators, and community members. The process may lead to identified Mathematics resources (e.g., textbooks, digital materials) for some or all grade levels and courses in school year 2025-2026.

The review process is designed to ensure:

Resources align with Virginia Standards of Learning and FCPS Learning Model;
Resources meet the educational needs of a variety of learners;
Resources reflect culturally responsive curriculum and pedagogy;
Students gain equitable access to high-quality, dynamic resources; and
Input from multiple stakeholder groups is collected and valued.

Appointed community representatives must be able to meet the following participation criteria for a total commitment of 25 hours. Dates will be confirmed in February.

Participation on the committee requires the following:

Attend two in-person meetings (March 3, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. and March 24, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.) at Gatehouse Administrative Center, three subcommittee meetings via Zoom (dates TBD), and two vendor demos via Zoom (dates TBD) during March. Subcommittee meetings will be scheduled by the members at a time convenient for all.
Conduct approximately five hours of independent review of the materials during March.
Keep information on vendors, materials reviewed, and recommendations confidential.
Respond to email communication with subcommittee members.
Hold no conflict of interest with instructional vendors under consideration.

Recommendation: If you are interested in representing the Braddok District on the Mathematics Instructional Resource Review Committee, please send me a statement of interest by Feb. 5.

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

Braddock District School Board News - January 2025

School Board Braddock District 2 months ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Greetings Braddock Friends & Neighbors -

After a (still) very cold snap and significant snowfall for our region, with a second closely on its heels, it is turning out to be an eventful January! As much as I love watching snow fall and even taking walks in the snow, I’m hoping for less snow going forward!

As we begin the second half of our school year in the bitter cold, I am already thinking of all the fun the spring will bring - sports, performances, and the end of year celebrations! I hope to see you out and about in the community as the days get longer.

Scroll below for links to learn more about the FCPS inclement weather policy, and to see some cool snow photos from elementary schools in the Braddock District.

The School Board has been busy and back at work with some important initiatives, including collective bargaining, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which is our annual review of facility and renovation needs, and preparing for the fiscal year 2026 budget process. As the current vice chair of the budget committee, I am working collaboratively with my colleagues to raise budget priorities and eagerly await Dr. Reid’s proposed advertised budget to be presented to the board on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Stay tuned for more budget details and in the meantime, if you want to dig into historical budget documents and review this year’s fiscal forecast, check out all the historical budget information!

Collective Bargaining Update

I would like to highlight our action on Jan. 9 to approve FCPS' first-ever collective bargaining agreements, which was a historic moment for our school system and community, giving our teachers and staff a voice in their future. I am proud to fully support the School Board efforts towards collective bargaining, since our first vote in 2020 kicking off the process, my time as School Board chair leading the work to finalize the school board resolution that allowed for teachers and staff to organize, to the ratification of the first collective bargaining agreement two weeks ago.

Giving teachers and staff a seat at the table helps to recruit and retain high quality teachers and staff, which leads to high quality education for our students. After all, our teachers' working conditions are our children's learning conditions. Everyone in Fairfax County will benefit directly or indirectly from this giant step, as excellent schools are often the driver of a strong economy and community. I want to thank and congratulate our leadership team and Fairfax Education Union and its members for their collaboration, their patience, and professionalism along the way.

Click the image below to watch the video for my comments on this topic at the Jan. 9 School Board meeting. Watch the full meeting here.

In other news, at its work session on Jan. 14, the School Board received a presentation about the 2026-30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which annually assesses current student membership, capacity information and other important facilities data.

FCPS is charged with massive stewardship of this community’s most used resources – more than 200 buildings totaling more than 28 million square feet and worth more than $8.7 billion. In addition to the nearly 180,000 students who walk through our schools’ doors each day, FCPS facilities are where hundreds of community groups gather outside of school hours - indeed more than 500,000 outside of school events take place in our buildings every year! Schools are truly the center and heartbeat of our communities. Schools hold many elections, provide space to the county to run the School Age Child Care (SACC) programs, and where religious, civic, and cultural organization activities meet regularly.

Yet, we are underfunding renovation and improvements to school facilities by an alarming amount, spending far less than our peers with smaller systems and lower enrollments. For example, according to FCPS Facilities, FCPS currently spends $8.54 per square foot of building space on capital improvements, while Prince William County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools spend $43.57 and $12.63 per square foot, respectively. Given these challenges, FCPS is currently facing a 42-year backlog in school renovation projects and a significant backlog of major maintenance.

In coordination with our funding partners at the state and County, we must find ways to better fund the school facilities that are the heartbeat of our community. The school board is working on finding creative and different ways to do more to maintain and, where necessary and where funds support, update these facilities to serve changing enrollments and community needs, address safety and operational concerns, and implement important environmental initiatives.

January 14, 2025 Public Hearing on the FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program

School Board Braddock District 2 months 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

The Fairfax County School Board welcomes public comment on the proposed FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program at a Public Hearing. This public hearing is scheduled to take place at the Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

The Speaker's List opened at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2024 and is now open through 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025. The Fairfax County School Board Office will notify speakers (via email) the morning of January 14, 2025.

Register to Speak at the CIP Public Hearing (in-person or live via Zoom)
Proposed FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program
Information on Speaking at School Board Meetings
Watch School Board meetings and public hearings.

Any questions, written statements, and copies of testimony may be submitted to [email protected].

Upcoming Regular School Board Meeting

The next regular board meeting will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Luther Jackson Middle School, at 7 p.m.

The Fairfax County School Board

Braddock District School Board News - Jan. 9 2025 Meeting Preview

School Board Braddock District 2 months 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Greetings Braddock Friends & Neighbors, and Happy New Year!

I hope you and your family had a relaxing winter break and enjoyed this week's snow days! While I’m sure many welcomed the chance to play outside and have some extra family time, for others snow days can create hardships from the lack of routine, lack of food, finding childcare or asking students to care for younger siblings, or having to go to work in dangerous snowy or icy conditions. While my daughter loved snow days that consisted of sledding down the big hill and making cookies with her neighborhood buddies, my son who thrives on routine and structure struggled with the time off. When I was a single parent, childcare could be a scramble. Snow days can be a mixed blessing but I hope you have enjoyed yours.

I am extremely grateful to our County partners and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews for working long hours to clear the roads, and to FCPS staff for clearing school parking lots and school sidewalks to ensure the grounds are safe for students to return. I am also grateful for the FCPS Food and Nutrition staff who have been at schools to hand out meal packs for students who may be food insecure. With the two rounds of snow, clearing all the roads and side roads is a difficult task. VDOT has been prioritizing clearing main and then secondary roads, however clearing bus stops and sidewalks has continued to be problematic. We have nearly 50,000 students who walk or bike to school each day, along with nearly 130,000 bus rides. FCPS staff continue to drive around the county to monitor conditions for bus and walker safety.

As we experienced multiple “snow day” school closures this week, some in the community have asked how FCPS decides when to cancel, delay, or close schools early. In short, the Superintendent works with her team to review information from emergency management and state highway administrators about road conditions, and school personnel inspect roads, sidewalks, and FCPS parking lots and bus lanes.

Here is a helpful video that explains how these difficult decisions are made:

2025 is barely underway and your Fairfax County School Board is already busy with a variety of important topics. While I will be sending a longer newsletter out next week with a recap of our meetings and much more information, I wanted to let you know of some important upcoming school board meetings, including a public hearing on capital improvements. The meeting agenda topics below may be impactful to you or the students in your household, so I hope you will find this information useful.

Links to meeting materials, background materials, and live/archived video links are included at the bottom of this message, as well as information on how to follow the work of the School Board.

I welcome your thoughts on these or any other school related topics, so I can better represent you! Reach out to my office any time with comments or if we can be of assistance.

All my best wishes to you for a wonderful 2025!

Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Braddock District School Board Member

Upcoming Meeting Information Jan. 9, 2025 Regular School Board Meeting

Of particular note for the next regular meeting, tonight, Jan. 9, are performance and policy reviews related to Executive Limitation 11 Transportation and Facilities, which states: “The Superintendent shall not fail to ensure the physical facilities, transportation systems, and nutrition programs align with the Division’s Strategic Plan goals and adhere to FCPS policies and equity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship commitments. Student learning is enhanced when school facilities and transportation vehicles are inviting, safe, clean, properly maintained, and when there is appropriate classroom space to provide learning opportunities for all students.”

Background and materials related to the EL 11 topics are located here and here.

In addition, the School Board will be voting on the ratification of the first Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) for the Licensed Instructional and Operational Bargaining Units.

The key terms of the Tentative CBAs are:

7% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) to salary scales in FY 26
3% MSA and step increase in FY 27 and FY 28.
Additional step at top of all salary scales added in FY 27 and FY 28
30- minute minimum block for teacher planning time
Continuation of extended-day contract for special education teachers
Three days of bereavement leave separate from sick leave
Creation of Health Care Advisory Committee to consider affordable healthcare plans

Background information and links to the CBAs are here.

Jan. 14, 2025 School Board Work Session: CIP

Looking ahead to next week, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, the School Board will hold a work session on pedestrian safety and the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which annually reviews current student membership, capacity information and other important facilities data. This is to identify future capacity needs and capital requirements, such as renovations, additions, or new builds. The Proposed CIP for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-29 was released in early January 2024 and includes:

A five-year membership projection,
Program capacity utilization, and
Potential solutions for capacity deficit.

Here is a link for more information about the CIP and a link to the prior year’s CIP, approved on Feb. 8, 2024. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) | Fairfax County Public Schools

CIP Public Hearing: We’d love to hear from you!

Also, you may be interested in a public hearing on the CIP which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium. If you wish to speak about the CIP, you can register to speak. Registration for the Speaker's List is now open through 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 13. The Fairfax County School Board Office will notify speakers (via email) the morning of Jan. 14.

If you have thoughts on this but can’t attend the meeting, please send them to me directly.

More information on the CIP and Facilities

While the CIP is a five-year look ahead, the School Board approves the CIP each year to allow for incremental adjustments as needed.

As you may know, the building and renovation of schools are not financed through the school system’s operating funds, but through bonds. Bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements over a number of years and the county’s bonded debt is not likely to be a contributing factor to any increase in local taxes. The County maintains a AAA bond rating which is estimated to have saved taxpayers at least $1 billion in financing costs.

Our current bond funding along with current construction costs has led to a renovation cycle of approximately 42 years - meaning a school is fully renovated approximately once every 42 years. My understanding is that the bond funding does not currently cover renovation of athletic fields or other similar spaces unless those fields need to be fixed or adjusted due to renovation design or construction (i.e. the construction damaged the fields, relocating fields etc.) Best practices and school board policy for school renovation is 25 years, so in order to do everything we can to ensure modern learning spaces, FCPS and the school board are working to maximize bond funding and find creative solutions to facilities issues.

If you want to dig more into our facilities and design and construction information, here are some pertinent links:

CIP: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current Capital Process (renovations) Status: Building Our Future: Capital Projects | Fairfax County Public Schools
Communication Process for Capital Projects (renovations): Capital Projects - Communications & Engagement | Fairfax County Public Schools
Facilities Planning for the Future: Facilities Planning for the Future | Fairfax County Public Schools
Guiding Principles for the CIP: Guiding Principles for the Capital Improvement Plan | Fairfax County Public Schools
2023 Bond Referendum: 2023 School Bond Referendum | Fairfax County Public Schools

Historical Bond Referendums: Historical Bond Referendum Documents | Fairfax County Public Schools

Upcoming Meeting Agendas Jan. 9, 2025 Regular Meeting

The Fairfax County School Board will hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Rd, Falls Church VA 22042.

Agenda items:

Call to order/Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence and a performance of the National Anthem by Hughes Middle School Advanced Chorus under the direction of Steven McBride
Announcements
2024-2025 Exemplar Awards
Community Participation
Student Representative Matters
Action Items
- Ratification of Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreements Between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax Education Unions (FEU) for the Licensed Instructional and Operational Bargaining Units
Performance Review
- Facilities and Transportation (EL-11) Monitoring Report
Policy Review
- Facilities and Transportation (EL-11) Policy Review
- Presentations to the School Board
- Academic Matters
Consent Agenda
- Award of Contract – Lees Corner Elementary School Renovation Project
- Mosaic ES Renovation Amendment of Contract – Intertek-PSI – Construction Testing and Inspection Services
- Falls Church HS Renovation Amendment of Contract – Specialized Engineering – Construction Testing and Inspection Services
- Sole Source Amendment, Edupoint Educational Systems LLC, Student Information System Software
- New Sole Source Contract Award- iTeach US, LLC- Alternative Teacher Preparation Program for Fairfax County Public Schools Employees
New Business
- Award of Contract – Playground Equipment Installation at Bull Run Elementary School
- Technology (EL-12) Monitoring Report
Superintendent Matters
Board Matters

Watch the Work Session live or stream later.
Meeting Materials.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 Work Session & CIP Public Hearing

The Fairfax County School Board will hold a work session starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Gatehouse Administration Center, Room 1600, 8115 Gatehouse Rd building suite 1500, Falls Church, VA 22042.

Agenda items:

10:30-11:30 a.m. - Pedestrian Traffic & Safety
11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. - Capital Improvement Plan
6 p.m. - Capital Improvement Plan Public Hearing

How to Follow the Work of the School Board

View this link for a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings and associated information.
Click here for meeting logistics, agendas and handouts (to view the slides and materials, scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.
All Board and Committee meetings are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99, and are available to view later at the FCPS School Board YouTube page.

Boundary Project Updates Virtual Community Meeting Dates Set

Dates have been confirmed for upcoming virtual Community Boundary Review Meetings. All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared.

If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating virtually. Click a date below to register:

Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.

To ensure a meaningful experience for participants, each virtual Community Boundary Review Meeting will be capped at 400 participants, and each participant will receive their own unique Zoom link. All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the recently held in-person meetings, including the information shared and breakout time. Language interpretation will be available. Please visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

Summary of In-Person Community Boundary Review Meetings

In-person Community Boundary Review Meetings have been held for each FCPS region as part of the first phase of the review process. These sessions provided an opportunity for parents and caregivers, staff, students, and community members to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the comprehensive boundary review. FCPS partner, Thru Consulting, facilitated each session.

Key Themes Presented

Thru discussed why a boundary review is essential to ensure equitable access to quality education for all FCPS students. Key challenges include:

Overcrowding and lack of space for programs like pre-K.
Long student travel times and program locations that are less than ideal.
Split feeder schools and attendance islands.
High renovation costs and extended timelines.

This review, which is required every five years by the recently approved Boundary Policy 8130, will help address these issues and align with FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee has begun meeting. The committee includes two parents/caregivers or community members from each of FCPS’ 24 high school pyramids, school-based and division administrators, teachers, operational staff, and other community representatives. Each committee member’s unique perspective and insight are invaluable as FCPS works together to follow a process that is transparent, includes significant community participation and feedback, and always keeps students at the center of every decision. Please visit FCPS’ website to access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials and read about key takeaways from the committee meetings.

FCPS News Instructional Job Fair Set for Jan. 11

Fairfax County Public Schools wants you to join our team! We seek educator talent with strong student engagement skills and a passion for positively influencing our school communities.

Join us for our upcoming job fair.

Job Fair Details

Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, from 9 a.m.-noon (Weather Dependent)

Glasgow Middle School
There will be networking and interviewing opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers for current 2024-25 school year vacancies may be extended during the fair.
Registration is required to attend.

Find more information on the FCPS website.

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

Braddock District School Board News - Dec. 12, 2024

School Board Braddock District 3 months 1 week ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Hello Braddock Friends & Neighbors -

Winter is on its way, and with it we are nearing the end of the first half of the 2024-25 school year! I hope you and your loved ones are preparing to enjoy the winter break, with some much needed downtime and festivities! I know I am looking forward to having my family home, with the fun, laughter, games, and even occasional disagreement that comes with that. We play hard, laugh loudly, disagree with gusto, and love each other through it all. I hope you also have a winter break filled with core memories, lots of love, and much joy. I think we could all use a little more joy these days.

I find joy every time I see our students performing, creating, building, helping their community, or playing a sport. I learn something every time I talk with them during my school visits, with their thoughtful questions and insights. Knowing that our future is in good hands with these young people brings me much joy and peace.

School Board Recent Actions:

Your School Board has been quite busy in recent weeks with a number of important matters, including updating the system-wide grading policy, funding a comprehensive facilities assessment in preparation for creating a new school renovation queue, discussing the Strategic Plan Goal 2 report, receiving a report on middle school start times, approving new secondary course offerings and a division literacy plan, hearing the mid-year budget report with a focus on additional funding for safety and security measures, and receiving monitoring reports from the Superintendent in Human Resources and Student Learning Environment. Dr. Reid has also presented Academic Matters presentations on Student Attendance and Inclusive Schools.

See More from the School Board below for more information and links.

Speaking to the hundreds of caregivers who participated at a Boundary Project public input meeting on Dec. 3 at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

Boundary Review:

I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who turned out and participated in recent public input sessions about the current FCPS Comprehensive Boundary Review Project. Hundreds of constituents provided their thoughts during sessions for Region 5 at Westfield High School on Dec. 2 and for Region 4 at Lake Braddock Secondary School on Dec. 3.

I’ve received a few questions about where we are in the boundary process. The School Board has reviewed and updated the Boundary Policy which prioritizes capacity, shorter transportation times, proximity to schools, and access to programming as top factors to be prioritized in considering boundaries. The policy also includes robust community engagement before and after changes are proposed, before any changes are made. Currently, there are no proposed changes to boundaries; we are in the process of gathering community input for our consultant. There will be community engagement throughout the process - your voice matters to us and is a vital part of the process.

If you haven't yet had a chance to participate, there are two more opportunities coming up (dates and registration links below). This process and its result will only be the best it can be with your input. You can also send your thoughts to me directly.

High School Athletics:

I'd also like to thank the many constituents who have reached out with concerns about recent events involving high school athletics.

First and foremost, I am truly sorry for the angst caused to our community, and for the erosion of trust in our system. All students should have equal access to every aspect of public education, including sports programs, and competition should be fair. I regret that there have been unfortunate impacts to many, including on students and families in the Braddock District. As a leader in the system, I take my responsibility seriously and am sorry for any negative results your child may have faced, including student athletes whose season was affected.

You may be aware that the School Board voted at its Dec. 5 meeting to engage an external law firm that has not performed any work for FCPS or the Superintendent in the last 10 years to conduct a comprehensive and independent examination (to include but not limited to student athlete transfers and eligibility practices) for all high school athletics across FCPS schools, starting with a examination of Hayfield High School, and to report its findings and make recommendations to the School Board and Superintendent.

I am grateful to my colleagues for supporting my follow on motion, seconded by my colleague Melanie Meren of the Hunter Mill District, directing the Governance Committee to update related policies once the external review is complete, to help ensure our policies are updated to prevent a similar situation from happening in the future. In a related action, the school board voted to ask Dr. Reid to bring a corrective action plan to the Executive Limitations monitoring report on Human Resources to address plans to improve consistency of training and expectations for personnel. See below for more information.

Moving forward, I promise that I will continue to advocate for greater transparency and better guardrails for student transfers moving forward in partnership with the community and the Virginia High School League.

Stay warm, and please let me know how I can assist you at any time.

Very truly yours,

Rachna

IN THIS ISSUE …

Focus on Braddock

Music & Arts

Neurodiversity News

Braddock District School Board News - Dec. 5 Meeting Preview

School Board Braddock District 3 months 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Following is the agenda and links to materials and video for the next Fairfax County School Board regular meeting scheduled for later this week. I strongly encourage you to follow the work of the School Board and take advantage of opportunities for public input. Please let me know how I can assist you at any time.

Rachna Sizemore Heizer
Braddock District School Board Member

Upcoming School Board Meetings Thursday, Dec. 5, Regular Meeting

The Fairfax County School Board will hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Rd, Falls Church VA 22042.

Agenda Items:

Justice High School 65th Anniversary Proclamation
Community Participation
Student Representative Matters
Performance Review: Human Resources (EL-4) Monitoring Report
Policy Review: Human Resources (EL-4) Policy Review
Academic Matters
Strategic Plan Update
Superintendent Matters
FY 2025 Midyear Budget Review Presentation
Consent Agenda
- Amendment to the Strategic Governance Manual regarding Newsletters
- Approval of Minutes
- Award of Contract – Playground Equipment Installation at Flint Hill Elementary School
- Award of Contract – Baseball Field Renovation at Fort Hunt Elementary School
- Award of Contract – Bren Mar Park Elementary School Renovation Project
New Business
- FY 2025 Midyear Budget Review
- Proposed FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program
- Strategic Plan Goal 2 Report: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered
- Award of Contract – Lees Corner Elementary School Renovation Project
- External Review and Internal Processes (related to high school athletics)
- Policy 2418, Reporting Student Progress to Parents and Guardians (renamed to Secondary Grades Assessment and Grading, and Reporting on Progress of Learning)
Board Committee Reports
Board Matters

How to Follow the Work of the School Board

View this link for a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings and associated information.
Click here for meeting logistics, agendas and handouts (to view the slides and materials, scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Visit the community participation webpage to sign up to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.
All Board and Committee meetings are live-streamed on the FCPS website and televised on FCPS Cable Channel 99, and are available to view later at the FCPS School Board YouTube page.

E-mail: Rachna Sizemore Heizer | Phone: 571-423-1088

Staff Aide: Bill Farrar, 571-423-1076

16 minutes 40 seconds ago

Braddock District Member - Rachna Sizemore Heizer - Recent Updates

http://www.fcps.edu/index.shtml Subscribe to School Board Braddock District feed