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Dear Community Members,

There is so much happening in our lives here in Fairfax County - as parents, residents, professionals, students - and there are many priorities that vie for our attention. With the federal government shutdown in effect, I hope we can be extra compassionate to one another under this latest immense stress. I am keeping this in mind as significant decisions come before the Board in the near future, and I am responsible for sustaining our school communities - a major part of what makes Fairfax the place we call home.   

I completed my final Back-to-School-Night last week at Dogwood Elementary School, our singular elementary school in the Hunter Mill district with an International Baccalaureate (IB) program (leading to IB programs at Langston Hughes MS and South Lakes HS).  

As at my other visits, adults say they can’t imagine what it’s like to be in my role at this time. They acknowledge the School Board’s huge undertakings - especially the boundary review and determining use of the new Western High School - and the national political attention we are navigating while strictly adhering to laws. 

I hear often that being a School Board Member is a thankless job, but it’s not. I am humbled and buoyed regularly by the gratitude from parents and family members, employees, and residents who believe that our public schools are worth fighting for. 

People also ask what they can do to meet the moment as a community and a democracy. Here is my suggestion for what you can do:

Show up and speak up! November 5, 7:00pm

As such: I’m delighted to invite you to a Community Engagement Summit, which I’ve envisioned as a place for learning, connecting, and action. It will be on Wednesday, November 5, from 7:00-8:30pm, at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna. Please register and provide information helpful for planning using this Google form. This Summit will be in-person only, to invest in person-to-person community-building. 

What can you expect to experience and gain by attending the Summit?

1. Understand how our public schools are funded: I’ll relay simply Virginia’s complex funding process, and identify who is involved in funding decisions.
2. Discuss how we as individuals and a community support children and public education, and fortify the public’s investments made in Fairfax. 
3. Prepare to speak up for the success of our community. Learn about how you can advocate, including at specific upcoming opportunities here in Fairfax where showing up and speaking up can make the difference! You are needed! 

Until then, you have the opportunity to vote in the November 4 general election. This election asks us to select the top three leadership positions in Virginia: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, as well as all 100 Virginia House of Delegate representatives (each voter is represented by just one). Additionally, local town elections, like in the Town of Vienna, are on the ballot. And critical to FCPS is the capital bond, which delegates funding to maintaining our 28 million square feet of public facility assets, valued at $8.7 billion, used seven days a week by Fairfax residents. Read the more about the bond in this newsletter, below.

There is no off-year election in Virginia - we vote every year, and every election matters! More information is found here, including to vote early in-person (now available!) and absentee.

School Board Updates and Recent Work