technology | FFXnow

Published November 2, 2026 at 11:45AM

The sign in front of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Some of the most high-profile actions the Fairfax County School Board is expected to take during the 2026-27 school year will relate to the use of technology, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.

Based on feedback from a newly established advisory committee, Fairfax County Public Schools staff presented early drafts of two policies — one for use of educational technology in general and one for emerging tech — to the school board’s governance committee for its input last week (Oct. 27).

News

Fairfax City meetings go offline, as FBI warns of AI-detected vulnerabilities

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published October 21, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated October 21, 2026 at 4:17PM

The sign in front of Fairfax City Hall (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

The City of Fairfax’s public meetings are currently inaccessible online after the platform that hosts its videos and agendas detected a vulnerability in its web programming language.

“Granicus has identified a PHP vulnerability and temporarily took all Media Manager services offline as a precaution, while they assess any potential impact,” the city said in a notice issued this morning (Wednesday).

News

FCPS rolls out online app built by TJ students that identifies safer routes to schools

By Beth Lawton

Published October 20, 2026 at 2:45PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students Isaac Leetyn, Ashwath Muppa and Daniil Prokofev discuss their new mobile app SafeWalkr (photo by Karen Bolt/FCPS)

Back in March, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology student Daniil Prokofev went for an 8-mile run from the Lincolnia school to his home. That run led to the development of a web-based app that will someday be able to help all Fairfax County Public Schools students find safe routes to school.

The route Prokofev took on his run in March, suggested by Google Maps, wasn’t particularly safe, as several sections had no sidewalks and there were busy intersections to cross.

Countywide

Fairfax school board refines policy limiting kindergarten tech use, orders app reviews

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published October 20, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated October 20, 2026 at 10:31PM

The sign in front of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools will examine its use of instructional apps and software, following two recent unanimous votes from the school board.

At its Oct. 8 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board, by an 8-4 vote, approved a carve-out in the division’s digital device restrictions to allow kindergarteners in need of additional reading support to use the literacy program Lexia during this academic year — a move that affects about 30% of kindergarteners.

News

Skyview HS quantum computer could be ‘incubator’ for future FCPS programs

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published October 14, 2026 at 3:45PM

Skyview High School in Herndon (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools has acquired a quantum computer, touted as the world’s first for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, for its new Skyview High School in the Floris area south of Herndon.

Roughly the size of a small refrigerator, the computer is expected to be installed in December and become available next spring to FCPS students, enabling them to explore quantum concepts, understand how the machine differs from a traditional computer, and test problems.

News

Community activist running for Herndon Town Council backs ending use of Flock cameras

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 9, 2026 at 1:45PM

Josif Ezekilov (courtesy Friends of Josif Ezekilov)

Josif Ezekilov originally arrived in Herndon about two years ago as a community organizer for the New Virginia Majority, tasked by the civic engagement group with amplifying the voices of the town’s Latino residents.

After falling in love with the small town and moving there with his wife, Ezekilov now hopes to bring that same activist energy and focus on the needs of immigrants and the working class to the Herndon Town Council.

News

Reston tech contractor announces expansion, adding 75 jobs

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 18, 2026 at 10:00AM

The office building at 12100 Sunset Hills Road in RTC West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s sluggish job market is expected to get a small boost in the coming months, thanks to a Reston-based contractor.

The technology company Data Machines has committed to investing $849,000 in an expansion of its headquarters in RTC West (12100 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 605), a move that will create 75 new jobs, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced yesterday (Thursday).

News

Pro-Trump group to rally against data centers in Bren Mar this afternoon

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published September 17, 2026 at 12:45PM | Updated September 17, 2026 at 1:26PM

Data Center Revolt bus (courtesy Humans First)

As opposition to data centers continues to mount nationwide, some unexpected alliances have emerged.

Just two days after democratic socialist Bernie Sanders shared a stage with right-wing strategist Steve Bannon, a grassroots conservative organization led by the self-proclaimed “founder of the modern day Tea Party” will stop in solidly blue Fairfax County as part of a national “Data Center Revolt” bus tour.

Countywide

Fairfax County board suspends Flock camera installations, as criticism grows in N. Va.

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published September 16, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated September 16, 2026 at 4:53PM

An automated license plate reader (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Amid a growing national backlash to automated license plate readers (ALPRs), Fairfax County leaders want to take a closer look at their partnership with Flock Safety, the country’s leading provider of the controversial cameras.

In response to “hundreds of emails” sent by residents to their offices in recent weeks, county supervisors, led by Board Chair Jeff McKay, voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to pause the installation of new Flock cameras by the Fairfax County Police Department.

Countywide

N. Va. political leaders scramble to meet evolving public sentiment on data centers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 28, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated August 28, 2026 at 9:32AM

An Amazon data center in Sterling, seen from Route 28 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Politicians are scrambling nationally to address growing public concern over data centers, and in Northern Virginia, where many local elected leaders will be on the ballot in 2027, the issue is proving a delicate balancing act.

Fairfax County residents expect “fair rules of engagement” when it comes to addressing the impacts of data centers, Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay said at the 11th annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit, held on Wednesday (Aug. 26) in Arlington.