Fairfax County School Board

Published February 14, 2025 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden at a school board work session on Feb. 4, 2025 (via FCPS/YouTube)

For Fairfax County Public Schools officials, an already daunting budget season has been complicated by a new financial risk: the possibility of losing federal funding.

Last month, the federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing federal agencies to halt spending so it can review financial assistance programs to ensure they align with administration priorities — which include eliminating diversity initiatives, rolling back environmental regulations, and restricting immigration.

News

McLean Citizens Association questions need for Dunn Loring school before board vote

By James Jarvis

Published February 3, 2025 at 3:55PM

Dunn Loring Elementary School design (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) is calling for the Fairfax County School Board to delay the construction of a new Dunn Loring elementary school, arguing that the project is unnecessary given the ongoing decline in student enrollment at nearby schools.

The request comes ahead of a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow (Feb. 4), when officials are set to hold a public hearing and vote on whether to approve the project.

Countywide

FCPS superintendent requests $268M funding increase, mostly for employee pay raises

By James Jarvis

Published January 27, 2025 at 1:15PM

Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid is requesting an additional $268.3 million from the county for fiscal year 2026, with most of it going toward a 7% across-the-board pay raise for teachers and staff.

The raise, costing $213 million, is part of a newly negotiated collective bargaining agreement between the school board and the recently formed Fairfax Education Unions. Whether the county can afford it, however, is still an open question.

News

FCPS: Billions needed for school facility projects, even with declining enrollment

By James Jarvis

Published January 17, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated January 17, 2025 at 11:37AM

The Fairfax County Public Schools administrative center in Merrifield (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools needs $2.6 billion over the next decade to address renovations and construction projects already in its pipeline, school officials say.

While $428 million is available from past bond referendums, it’s far from enough to cover the school system’s current priorities, which were laid out in a draft Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026-2030 presented to the Fairfax County School Board on Tuesday (Jan. 14).

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New FCPS traffic safety pilot program sparks mixed reactions from school board

By James Jarvis

Published January 15, 2025 at 3:45PM

A crossing guard watches a crosswalk outside Daniels Run Elementary School in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools is rolling out a new plan to tackle traffic and pedestrian safety concerns at its 200 schools, but not everyone on the school board is sold on the idea.

The School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program, discussed during a school board work session on Tuesday (Jan. 14), aims to streamline how schools identify and address issues like clogged “Kiss and Ride” loops, bus congestion and pedestrian safety.

Countywide

School board approves policy to standardize grading across FCPS

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 26, 2024 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

At its final meeting of 2024, the Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a policy revision that it hopes will lead to more consistent grading policies countywide.

The measure represents “a huge improvement from what was there before,” according to Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson.

Countywide

Superintendent lays out timeline for revising FCPS athletic policies

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 23, 2024 at 11:15AM

Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid outlined a timeline on Thursday (Dec. 19) for revising policies related to student athletics following a controversy over alleged football-recruiting irregularities at Hayfield Secondary School.

Engaged in ongoing damage control, the superintendent told the Fairfax County School Board at its last meeting of the year that “clear, bright-line rules and regulations” will be rolled out in coming months.

Countywide

FCPS students seek consistency and flexibility in cell phone policy revisions

By James Jarvis

Published December 13, 2024 at 9:45AM

Fairfax County School Board student representative Megan Sawant speaks during a board meeting on Dec. 5, 2024 (via FCPS)

As Fairfax County Public Schools considers revising its cell phone storage policy, students are calling for a more consistent approach across classrooms, citing concerns about uneven enforcement.

The school system is currently testing a phone-free pilot program at select middle and high schools to evaluate the impact of stricter limits on student cell phone use. Once the pilot concludes, the school board plans to use the collected data to develop an updated policy aligned with new Virginia Department of Education guidelines, which must be adopted by school boards statewide by Jan. 1, 2025.

Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools seeks to expand security with $3.4M budget boost

By James Jarvis

Published December 10, 2024 at 3:45PM

FCPS Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden speaks to school board (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools is set to allocate an additional $3.4 million to safety and security upgrades, drawing from surplus revenue identified in its mid-year budget review.

The funding includes $1.5 million from a class-action settlement with Juul, as well as higher-than-expected sales tax revenue and tuition payments from the City of Fairfax.

Countywide

Judge lets lawsuit challenging FCPS policies on gender identity proceed

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 10, 2024 at 1:15PM

A LGBTQ pride flag sticks in a woman's hair at a 2023 rally in support of transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A right-wing group’s lawsuit challenging Fairfax County Public Schools policies designed to be inclusive of transgender and other gender non-conforming students will be allowed to move forward.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Brett A. Kassabian issued an order last Friday (Dec. 6) mostly overruling an attempt by the Fairfax County School Board to dismiss the civil suit, which argues that policies requiring students to be identified and treated based on their gender identity violate the rights of students who don’t want to follow those policies.