Public Affairs Committee
Reed Building Planning Committee Updates
Questions, comments, concerns? Contact Simon Mouer, Committee Chair
UPDATED 28 MAY 2018
“Your Voice Matters” Parent Survey – Deadline is May 25
Friday, May 25 is the deadline for parents to share feedback with APS through the Your Voice Matters parent survey, which will provide a snapshot of school climate, staff engagement, and student and family well-being in Arlington. Parents should have either received an email invitation to complete the survey online, or a paper survey in the mail (depending on availability of email addresses). Survey invitations come from independent vendor Panorama Education; confidentiality is guaranteed and results will be posted to the APS website this summer. For more information, visit www.apsva.us/your-voice-matters-survey/.
FY 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
The APS Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) addresses investments needed to improve or enhance school infrastructure over the next ten years, including new schools, school additions, and major maintenance. The School Board will act on June 21 on the FY 2019-28 CIP; the Superintendent’s proposed FY 2019-28 CIP includes such major projects as the Education Center, the Career Center and the elementary school at Reed.The Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2019-28 CIP includes a new 725-seat elementary school at Reed; a second 725-seat elementary school opening in 2029; a middle school addition with 300 new seats in 2023; 600 seats in the renovated Education Center to expand enrollment at Washington-Lee, and an 800-seat addition at the Career Center. Please Note: No decisions have been made about what will be in the final CIP that the School Board will take action on in June.At the CIP Work Session #3, APS staff presented two scenarios the School Board had inquired about at the May 7 CIP Work Session. Both scenarios offer alternatives that could be considered by the School Board in terms of timing, type, and amenities offered at facilities included in the Superintendent’s Proposed CIP. Also, both scenarios include a new 725-seat elementary school at Reed to open in 2021, and both sought to bring high school seats at the Career Center earlier than had been envisioned in the Superintendent’s Proposed CIP. The following is a summary of the two scenarios presented:
- Scenario A: Would open 800 seats and a performing arts addition at the Career Center by 2024. By 2026, this scenario includes the opening of a synthetic field and parking garage. The trade-off in this scenario is that the timing to develop a new elementary school with 725 seats and add 300 seats at a middle school is pushed back to 2031. This scenario also necessitates 80 relocatable classrooms in the 2027-28 peak year.
- Scenario B: By 2021, the renovated Education Center would house the students in the Montessori program located at the Henry site. In this same year, once the Montessori students at Henry have been moved, the Henry building would provide 500 temporary neighborhood high school seats. By 2024, an additional 800 seats would be opened at the Career Center along with 500 more permanent seats to replace the temporary seats in the Henry building. At that point, the Henry building would be demolished to make way for a synthetic field by 2026. In the same year in this scenario, another synthetic field with an underground parking garage also would be slated to open. This scenario calls for 80 relocatable classrooms needed in the 2027-28 peak year.
- CIP Questionnaire: Available until May 31 at www.apsva.us/engage/cip_fy19-28/
- What’s UP, APS? Podcast: Episode 20 with Asst. Superintendent Leslie Peterson and Principal Planner Robert Ruiz – www.apsva.us/school-community-relations/aps-podcast/
- For more information on the 2019-28 CIP, visit www.apsva.us/engage/cip_fy19-28/.
UPDATED 24 APRIL 2018
FY 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan/"CIP"
Every two years, the School Board adopts a CIP that addresses APS capital needs – investments needed to improve or enhance the infrastructure of our schools – over the next ten years. The Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2019-2028 CIP will be presented on May 3 and the School Board will vote on June 21.
View the April 24 School Board Work Wession to hear the discussion about the CIP, discussion begins at the 1 hour mark: https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/
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The introduction is only a few minutes long and worth watching, as it discusses what is funded by the CIP and what is funded by other means (operating budget).
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At the 1:11 mark future seat capacity is discussed.
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At the 1:18 mark is the start of school budgeting presentation, this is where they briefly mention the buck property to adding 250 elementary seats.
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At the 1:47 mark Q&A from the APS board.
Draft debt capacity can be seen here: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CIP-Scenario-for-WS-Number-One-04.24.18.pdf
The CIP presentation can be reviewed here: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CIP-Work-Session-Number-One-04.24.18.pdf
There will be opportunity for community input on the Superintendent’s proposal. An online questionnaire will be posted on the APS Engage! website from May 4-31. Email engage@apsva.us with inquiries or comments.
Discussion about Alternate/Supplemental Use of Education Center
Arising from School Board Work Session
During the APS School Board Work Session on April 12, there was a brief discussion about potential use of space the Education Center as elementary seats or ‘flex space’ as John Chadwick, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations, called it.
Currently the Ed Center space has been approved for 500-600 high school seats, and that appears to be still the case.
In the discussion, this potential use seemed to be targeted ‘at a later point in time,’ which was not defined. Tannia Talento asked several questions that were not able to be answered.
This discussion starts at the very beginning of the video and unfortunately the start of the conversation was not captured. The entire discussion is about 6 minutes.
Watch the discussion at the following link, select the April 12 meeting: https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/
During the April 24 School Board Work Session about the CIP, there was nothing in the presentation or draft debt capacity overview.
In discussion with APS staff, the reason this came up is that they projected an additional 100 or so students to start high school this year that traditionally come from private schools or rentals units that did not come into APS. Some APS staff are looking for trends and so perhaps, if the 500-600 seats at the Education Center are not full of high school students, the seats can be freed up to for elementary seats or other uses.
The April 12 discussion indicated this may require APS School Board approval to use these seats for anything other than high school capacity.
Elementary School Planning Initiative
APS Staff will publish an update to the initial draft analysis for the Elementary School Planning Initiative on Monday, April 30. This information will be posted at www.apsva.us/engage.
On Wednesday, May 9, at 7pm, APS will hold a Community Meeting at the Syphax Education Center, Room 256-258, 2110 Washington Blvd.; simultaneous interpretation and livestreaming will be available.
Despite making some corrections to APS’ initial draft presentation, APS Staff continues to seem very determined to suggest that a school north of Lee Highway should become an option school.
Please plan to attend this meeting to make your voice heard.
The initial timeline for this initiative has been extended in response to community and staff input that more time is needed for residents to be heard and for additional options to be analyzed.
School Board action on the location of neighborhood and option elementary schools will not take place until Fall 2018, as part of the boundary process, rather than June 2018 as initially scheduled. For an updated timeline, visit www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Handout_ES-Planning-Initiative_FINAL-ENGLISH-Updated-April-12.pdf.
For more information about this initiative, visit www.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/.
The PTA and several Nottingham parents have been very active in speaking with board members and other school PTAs. Please join this effort by going to APS School Board Open Office Hours, Regular School Board Meetings and the May 9 Community Meeting.
Let other Nottingham families know you will be attending by signing up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f44a5af2ea5f58-nottingham
Upcoming Survey for Snapshot of Student Well-Being
The survey will reach parents in one of two ways. Families with an email address on file with APS will receive an email invitation link to participate in the survey online. Families without an email address on file with APS will receive paper surveys (containing individual access codes) through the mail. Families can either return their paper surveys by mail using the provided envelope, or complete the survey online using their access code.The survey will be online from May 7-25. Results will be available on the APS website this fall.
UPDATED 2 APRIL 2018
School Board Public Hearing on Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2019 APS Budget
As many parents know APS is proposing several changes due to budgeting. You can read watch past board meetings that discuss this situation here:
https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/view-school-board-meetings/
The scheduling for this effort is below.
- April 3 – Budget Work Session #5 in Education Center Room 101A at 7:00 p.m.
- April 5 – School Board’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget
- April 6— Joint School Board/County Board Work Session on School Board’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget
- April 19 – Public Hearing on School Board’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget
- May 3 – School Board adopts FY 2019 Budget
For more information, visit www.apsva.us/budget-finance/.
The best way to make your voice heard is to do the following:
- Sign up to speak at a board meeting
- Attend office hours with a board member (probably the most direct way)
- Email or phone (they do read emails)
Directions to do any of the above can be found here: https://www.apsva.us/contact-the-school-board/ ; in person will have the highest impact.
Timeframe for Elementary School Planning Initiative
APS has received nearly 1700 responses to the community questionnaires on elementary school walk zones. This feedback is informing staff decisions on possible ways to safely expand some school walk zones. APS transportation staff is compiling a priority list of infrastructure improvements to address with the County.
The APS planning team is reviewing community input on the considerations to take into account in developing recommendations on the location of neighborhood and option elementary schools; the draft considerations to be used will be posted by March 26 at www.apsva.us/engage.
Upcoming community engagement opportunities on this initiative include the following:
April 12 – Visit www.apsva.us/engage to review draft recommendations for the location of neighborhood and option elementary schools and to share your feedback on these recommendations using the online questionnaire available through April 26.
Bring your questions to Staff Open Office Hours (Spanish-speaking staff available):
- Monday, April 16: 7-8:30 p.m. in Wakefield H.S. cafeteria
- Friday, April 20: 7:30-9 a.m. at the Education Center, Room 101
- Saturday, April 21: 9:30-11 a.m. in Kenmore M.S. cafeteria
May 1— APS will host a Community Meeting for staff to present the draft recommendations and take questions; 7 p.m., Yorktown High School cafeteria
May 17 – The Superintendent will present two proposals to the School Board as an information item.
June 21—The School Board will take action on these proposals.
For more information, visit www.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/
UPDATED 12 January 2018
Middle School Transfer Availability and Extended Middle School Application Deadline
APS has notified families of 5th grade students that Jefferson Middle School and Kenmore Middle School will be able to accept a limited number of middle school transfers for the 2018-19 school year. Transportation will be provided to students who are accepted to either school.
No neighborhood transfers will be available to Gunston, Swanson or Williamsburg middle schools. Gunston, however, will continue to accept current APS students who wish to continue in the middle school immersion or Montessori options at Gunston through the “Intent to Return” form available from elementary school counselors. Students new to Arlington who are interested in those programs should apply using the Middle School Options Application Form.
The deadline to submit the online Middle School Transfer Application Form: https://www.apsva.us/school-options/middle-school-choices/request-a-transfer/ for a neighborhood transfer to Jefferson or Kenmore has been extended to Friday, Jan. 26. Applications for H-B Woodlawn are still due on Jan. 19.
Community Input Needed for 2018-24 Strategic Plan
A Steering Committee comprised of parents, students, staff, and community members is working with APS to develop the 2018-24 Strategic Plan https://www.apsva.us/engage/strategic-plan/. Community input is vital to chart a course for the future of students, staff, and APS as a whole. Community members are now asked to review these draft options and provide input that will be used to refine and make the final selection for the APS mission, vision and set of core values. Please review the potential options for this section of the 2018-24 Strategic Plan and provide your input by 9 a.m. on Jan. 19 using a brief questionnaire available at www.apsva.us/engage/strategic-plan/
Acceptable Use Policy Update Staff are working on two separate APS acceptable use policies for student devices used for learning. One policy, specific to federal guidelines and filtering, will be an information item at the January 18 School Board meeting and a School Board action item on February 1. The second policy will address topics such as internet safety, digital citizenship, rights and responsibilities, and shared ownership. This policy will be developed in February and will be an information item at the March 22 School Board meeting and a School Board action item on April 5. The draft policies will be posted online for community review; feedback can be sent to engage@apsva.us For more information about the Acceptable Use Policy process and timeline, visit www.apsva.us/engage/acceptable-use/
Notes & Links
- Superintendent Dr. Murphy will present a recommendation on the 2018-19 school calendar at the Jan. 18 School Board meeting.
- The Jan. 23 School Board Work Session on Elementary School Boundary Changes will begin at 7 p.m. and can be viewed at www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/.
UPDATED 05 January 2018
2018 - 2024 Strategic Plan Questionnaire
This plan, which is scheduled for School Board action in June, will chart a course for students, staff, and APS as a whole. Community input is vital to this process so we write to ask for your help as we seek feedback on the work we’ve developed since our outreach last fall to gather stakeholder hopes and aspirations. The Committee and APS staff are presenting for community review some potential options for an APS mission statement, vision statement and set of core values. The input we receive will help us refine initial drafts and select final proposals for mission and vision statements, as well as core values, that capture the essence of APS.
We’d greatly appreciate your participation in this new community questionnaire for the 2018-24 Strategic Plan. It’s posted at www.apsva.us/engage/strategic-
A full draft of the plan should be available this spring for the community to consider before it goes to the School Board. If you’d like to have someone address this topic at a meeting over the next few months, please let us know and we may be able to arrange to have a representative from the Steering Committee or APS speak.
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Mimberg, Coordinator of Community Engagement, APS Planning and Evaluation, at 703-228-6039 or kathy.mimberg@apsva.us.
UPDATED 18 December 2017
At its Dec. 14 meeting, the School Board approved middle school boundary adjustments by approving Option Av2. These boundary adjustments will be effective for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 beginning in September 2019 when the new middle school at the Stratford site opens. Families of students affected by the new middle school boundaries will receive notification in the mail by February 2018.
You can see the details of the option here: https://www.apsva.us/wp-conten
You can watch the board meeting here: https://www.apsva.us/post/scho
You can see the presentation from the school board meeting at the link below:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba
Transfers to neighborhood middle schools for the 2018-19 school year were temporarily unavailable during the boundary adjustment process, to be reassessed once the boundary decisions were made by the School Board. APS staff is working now to determine which neighborhood middle schools will be available to accept transfers for next year. All 5th grade families will be notified of this through an APS School Talk update by Monday, January 8, 2018. Since the APS transfer application process can now be completed online, this will still allow sufficient time for families to apply for a transfer before the January 19, 2018 deadline for transfer and options applications.
This information will also be posted on the website and shared through other APS communication channels, including the www.apsva.us/engage <http://www.apsva.us/engage> site. In the meantime, the new middle school attendance zones for 2019-20 and related information can be found at www.apsva.us/engage/middle-sch
UPDATED 7 December 2017
Middle School Boundaries - The School Board met last week on 11/30 to discuss the middle school boundary changes. APS made a modification to the last proposal. The updated proposal shifts some planning units from TJ to Stratford. Also APS had made the recommendation that all grades (6 - 8) be moved to new boundaries in 2019.
You can see the new proposal here: _https://www.apsva.us/wp-conte
You can watch the board meeting at the link below, you can jump directly to the section where this is discussed in the public hearing section. https://www.apsva.us/post/scho
On Dec. 14th The School Board is scheduled to take action on middle school boundary changes at their meeting which begins at 6:30 p.m. Watch in person at the Education Center (1426 N. Quincy St.) or live online here: www.apsva.us/school-board-meet
Postponed: Acceptable Use Community Discussion on Dec. 11 - The Acceptable Use community discussion scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Mon, Dec. 11, at Washington-Lee High School has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. The postponement of the meeting will provide staff with additional time needed to further synthesize feedback.
Staff will work on two separate policies that address core elements related to technology usage, one specific to federal requirements and filtering, and the other to include topics such as: internet safety, disciplinary action, definitions of acceptable use and unacceptable use, shared ownership and responsibility, digital citizenship, and social media usage. For more information, visit www.apsva.us/engage/acceptable
County Government/APS Conversation- On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the Arlington County Civic Federation hosted a conversation with Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy and County Manager Mark Schwartz. This event can be viewed at: https://livestream.com/AETVaps
FY 2019 Budget Development - Budget Development Calendar available at https://www.apsva.us/wp-conten
APS Now Seeking Input on the 2018-19 APS School Year - APS invites families, staff, students and community members to submit their input regarding the Superintendent’s Draft Calendar for the 2018-19 School Year. Survey is available at the here: https://www.apsva.us/post/aps-
Online Survey for Community Input on School Naming Criteria Closes Friday, Dec. 8 - APS requests community assistance with shaping and expanding the naming criteria in the APS Naming Policy for current and future school facilities! This Fri, Dec. 8, is the deadline for the brief online form for community input, which is available at:https://survey.k12insight.c
More information about this initiative is available at www.apsva.us/engage/school-fac
UPDATED 21 NOVEMBER 2017
Middle School Boundary Change
Superintendent presentation of Middle School Boundary option to School Board: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Updated_Option_A_Revised_Packet-1.pdf. Video of entire meeting: https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-meeting-nov-14-2017/ Scroll down to the middle school presentation to see the discussion. Public comments on this latest recommendation are scheduled for the November 30 School Board meeting. To speak: www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/sign-up-to-speak/. The School Board decision is scheduled for Thursday, December 14.
Acceptable Use Policy (Technology / 1:1 Devices)
Meeting on November 15 was held to gather input to develop APS guidelines for the ipads and laptops that are issued to students. Presentation: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Nov-15-Presentation-AUP.pdf Community input is sought via the survey available here. The survey will be available through December 1. Please note this survey is much longer than previous ones and includes reviewing best practices used in other school districts. The supporting documentation to be read first is available here: https://www.apsva.us/engage/acceptable-use/ A second community discussion to review the APS draft policy will be held on December 11. The public will also have an opportunity to provide input at School Boards meeting on January 4 and January 18. School Board action on this initiative is scheduled for January 18, 2018.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Framework
The School Board will discuss the FY 2019-28 CIP Framework as part of the agenda at a work session on November 28 and as an information item at the School Board meeting on November 30. To view School Board meetings and work sessions online, visit www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/school-board-work-sessions-meetings/. For more information about the CIP, visit www.apsva.us/engage/capital-improvement-plan-cip/.
School Naming Criteria
APS is seeking community assistance with shaping and expanding the naming criteria in the APS Naming Policy for current and future school facilities. This is the first step in the process to revise the existing policy to reflect the views of the Arlington community. Provide input via survey until Friday, December 8: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/5AYRQh. Community members can participate in one of four focus group discussions on school naming criteria facilitated by The George Mason University School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (SCAR). Discussions will take place at the Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd, Arlington 22204 on Tuesday, 11/28 @ 630 pm and Saturday, 12/2 at 1000 am, 1100 am and 200 pm. Registration is required. Sign up to participate in one of the community focus group discussions at: www.eventbrite.com/e/aps-school-naming-criteria-community-meetings-tickets-39955940293.
UPDATED 14 NOVEMBER 2017
Middle School Boundary Change
APS is recommending a modified version of Option A. https://www.apsva.us/engage/middle-school-boundary-change/staff-recommendation/ for updated maps and further explanation of modifications recommended by APS staff. There does not appear to be a recommendation about whether 8th graders will transfer to new schools, if applicable. A public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 30 at 6:30pm.
Strategic Plan
APS has created a Strategic Plan Steering Committee to develop a new 6-year Strategic Plan for 2018 - 2024. As stated, "The Plan should address the needs and aspirations of students, parents, citizens, teachers, administrators, and staff, while charting a course for the school system’s core activities. The Steering Committee is comprised of high school students, APS staff (including teachers and school administration) as well as community members serving on other APS committees. The Plan's core priority is to focus on students and will include goals, strategies, and, objectives. In the starting the process APS would like parental feedback on the 'hopes and aspirations' for Arlington County Schools. To provide feedback: https://www.apsva.us/engage/strategic-plan/community-input-strategic-plan/ For background information: https://www.apsva.us/strategic-plan-overview/
Education Center
APS has recommended delaying the decision on the educational focus for the Education Center until the above strategic plan is completed in the spring of 2018. The press release can be found at the link below. https://www.apsva.us/post/staff-presents-options-instructional-focus-education-center-site/
UPDATED 21 NOVEMBER 2017
The following school board decisions took place at the end of last year and over the summer and will directly impact boundary discussions, the need for a new high school, and the ongoing crowding issues:
- The School Board decided to proceed with "Option D" which involves splitting the 1300 seats between the education center and career center. This decision passed 4-1 with James Lander dissenting. Follow the link: https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-meeting-june-29-2017/, select 'Options for High School Seats Question' section and go to 4:24 minute mark to understand why Mr. Lander voted against the option.
- The School Board voted to renew Dr. Murphy's contract as superintendent. The vote was 3-2, Reid Goldstein and Barbara Kanninen were the dissenting votes. The contract is good until July 2021. The linked video provides the full discussion. https://www.apsva.us/post/school-board-meeting-june-29-2017/
- Barbara Kanninen will take over as chair of the School Board.
Please check APS Current Initiatives frequently. Email Simon Mouer, Nottingham Public Affairs Chair, with questions.
Public Affairs Links
More Seats for More Students:
https://www.apsva.us/more-seats-for-more-students/
High School Boundary Refinement Process:
https://www.apsva.us/aps-boundaries/
High School Redesign:
https://www.apsva.us/secondary-education/aps-high-school-redesign/
2016 Bond Referenda:
https://budget.arlingtonva.us/bond-referenda/
Arlington School Board:
https://www.apsva.us/about-the-school-board/
Parents may also wish to check out the “Arlington Citizens for Responsible School Planning” Facebook page or the “Arlington Education Matters” Facebook group.
Upcoming Events
- Monday, June 25
- Wednesday, June 27
- Monday, July 2
- Saturday, July 7
- Monday, July 9
- Saturday, July 21
- Friday, July 27
