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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.
Hello, Springfield District,
As we near the end of the school year, I am reminded of how much there is to celebrate across FCPS. This month offered many opportunities to recognize the dedication of our staff, the achievements of our students, and the strength of our school communities. From honoring our retiring employees at the FCPS Retirement Ceremony to seeing student learning and belonging in action at the Phase 1 Inclusion Exhibition of Learning, I was grateful to spend time with Springfield school communities, including Greenbriar East Elementary, Hunt Valley Elementary, Rocky Run Middle, Saratoga Elementary, and South County Middle.
I also had the opportunity to celebrate innovation, leadership, and collaboration across the division. The Lighthouse Schools Celebration highlighted the important work happening at several schools across the division, including Hunt Valley Elementary and the Davis Career Center, while the Fairfax County 2026 Shark Tank Technology Challenge Awards Ceremony showcased the creativity and problem-solving skills of our students. I also appreciated joining the FCCPTA Awards Ceremony, the Leadership Fairfax Board of Supervisors Breakfast, the Mock Student Leadership Development Program Work Session, a visit to Powell Elementary School with Sully District School Board Representative Seema Dixit, and the Centreville Pyramid AVID Site Visit.
In addition to these celebrations and school visits, we continued important conversations about the future of FCPS through our Virtual Budget Town Hall and community engagement around the boundary review process. This included discussions related to Rolling Valley Elementary split feeders, the Keene Mill Elementary attendance island, and surrounding schools such as Cardinal Forest and White Oaks elementary schools. Finally, I want to remind families and community members that this is the last call to apply for volunteer opportunities on the Advanced Academic Advisory Committee and Educational Technology Advisory Committee. Your voice and participation help strengthen our schools and support every student’s success.
Finally, I’m hosting a virtual Technology Town Hall to host an open and welcoming environment for all community members to voice their feedback on the making of our Instructional Tech policy. Please register to join me on Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
I will be in touch soon,
Sandy
Top row left to right: Lighthouse Schools Celebration featuring Hunt Valley Elementary; Phase 1 Inclusion Exhibition of Learning featuring South County Middle School; Fairfax County Council PTA President Debbie Kilpatrick and me; and speaking to students at Colin Powell Elementary.
Bottom row left to right: attending the Community Boundary Review Meeting for Rolling Valley Elementary split feeders, the Keene Mill Elementary attendance island, and surrounding schools such as Cardinal Forest and White Oaks Elementary; Student Representative to the School Board Faith Mekonen leading the Student Leadership Development Program mock work session; students receiving their awards at the Fairfax County 2026 Shark Tank Technology Awards Ceremony; and Sully District School Board Representative Seema Dixit and me with Colin Powell Elementary principal Catherine Han.
This newsletter includes information on the following issues:
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Meeting information and materials will be posted to BoardDocs. Please note that times are subject to change.
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May 30 at 10 a.m. - Advisory Committee Summit: Advisory Committee for Students in Disabilities (ACSD), Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC), Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), and Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (CTEAC)
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June 11 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
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June 13 at 10 a.m. - Advisory Committee Summit: Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC), Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC), Title 1 Parent Advisory Committee (TPAC)
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June 15 at 4 p.m. - Audit Committee
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June 18 at 4:30 p.m. - Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee
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June 23 at 10:30 a.m. - Forum
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June 23 at 11:30 a.m. - All Day Work Session
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June 25 at 7 p.m. - Regular Meeting
Watch and Participate:
Stay Informed:
Support & Accessibility:
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Interpretation: Contact the Board Clerk if you require language or ASL support.
Springfield District Community Opportunities
Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee
Springfield District residents: Help shape the future of advanced academic programs in our schools! I am accepting applications for a one-year term on the AAPAC advisory committee. Members meet monthly to advise the School Board and advocate for community needs.
AAPAC represents the community and brings to the School Board’s attention resource and programmatic concerns associated with advanced academics programming.
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The Role: Advocate for community interests and make annual program recommendations to the School Board.
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Commitment: One-year term (August–July), meeting monthly (usually evenings).
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Eligibility: Must reside in the Springfield District.
To learn more about AAPAC, visit the AAPAC webpage. You may also learn about the School Board’s other Community Advisory Committees.
If you are interested, please fill out this brief Google Form by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Educational Technology Review Committee
FCPS is launching the Educational Technology Review Committee (ETRC) to advise leadership on classroom technology and AI use.
We need parent/caregiver representatives from all levels (elementary, middle, and high) to serve a one-year term. We are especially looking for perspectives on accessibility, disability support, and multilingual learning. Advanced tech skills are not required—your perspective as a parent is what matters most! Find additional details about the committee's focus.
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The Role: Serve a one-year term, meeting regularly during the school year to advise division leadership.
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Who We Need: Parents, caregivers, students, teachers, and administrators from all school levels.
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No Tech Expertise Required: We welcome all parents, especially those who can share perspectives on accessibility, disability support, and multilingual learner needs.
If you are interested, please fill out this brief Google Form by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026.
School Board Work
School Year Calendar Updates
Our Governance Committee met on May 19th to discuss the school year calendar, and I want to make sure our community stays informed as these decisions take shape. The calendar affects everything from instructional time to family planning, and we take that responsibility seriously. During the last meeting, there were several recommended changes to the policy proposed to the committee, and they will be brought to the full board for a vote on June 11th.
The calendar policy was revised to clarify language across several key areas, including the full school week, academic calendar, philosophy, instructional time, teacher work days and professional development, the last day of school, student holidays, observance days, community engagement, calendar adoption, school-year closures, and elections. The updated language also strengthens expectations for how the school calendar is developed, how instructional time is protected, and how community input is considered before calendar adoption. The revised version of the policy that Governance sent forward to the full board also updates language related to religious and cultural observances, creating a clearer place in the policy for guidance on religious holidays.
Meeting Materials | Video
Fiscal Year 2027 Adopted Budget
On May 14, the Budget Committee of the Whole met to finalize the details of our FY2027 budget ahead of its adoption on May 21st. This budget reflects our commitment to students, staff, and fiscal responsibility, and I’m proud of the work our team put in to get here. About 89% of the budget is dedicated to employee compensation, and this plan continues to protect classroom instruction while being a thoughtful steward of public funds. FCPS’ budget reductions over the last two years exceed $200M, including items such as enrollment and staffing formula adjustments, benefit rate changes, classroom monitors, central office reductions, and curriculum materials adoptions. Most of our funding comes from the County; however, because there was a gap in funding, our Superintendent adjusted our funds accordingly. We are still hopeful of funding from the State, and will adjust accordingly if that funding comes through in July.
Meeting Materials | Video
Secondary Literacy Update
At our May 21 regular meeting, Superintendent Dr. Reid brought us our second literacy update of the year, and the progress our students and educators are making is something worth celebrating! Literacy is foundational; it underpins everything we do, and we remain committed to ensuring every student in Fairfax County has the skills they need to thrive.
The Superintendent’s presentation highlighted our ongoing efforts to strengthen reading and writing proficiency across our middle and high schools. By shifting to evidence-based literacy practices, expanding targeted interventions for students who need extra support, and investing in specialized professional development for our secondary educators, we are seeing meaningful progress. I encourage everyone to view the full presentation from Dr. Reid. I am incredibly grateful to our hardworking teachers and staff who are dedicated to ensuring every student graduates as a confident, capable reader and critical thinker.
Meeting Materials | Video
FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2
At our May 7 meeting, we received an update on Goal 2 of our strategic plan: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered. This goal is deeply personal to me because students cannot learn if they do not feel safe, valued, and connected to their school community.
The presentation offered a helpful roadmap for reviewing student data, identifying areas of growth, and focusing our resources where they are needed most. As a Board, we remain committed to using this information to guide future budget and policy decisions and to deliver on our promise of excellence, equity, and opportunity for every child in FCPS. I invite you to review the presentation slides to learn more about this important work.
Meeting Materials | Video
Superintendent Review of EL11: Facilities, Transportation, and Nutrition
Also at our May 7 meeting, Superintendent Reid presented her monitoring report on Executive Limitation 11: Facilities and Transportation. These monitoring reports are a cornerstone of the way our Board evaluates the Superintendent; they also help ensure that our Superintendent is operating within the boundaries the Board has established and that we are accountable to our community.
This annual review outlined how the Superintendent is successfully aligning our physical infrastructure, from school cleanliness and classroom space to bus efficiency and healthy school meals, with our core commitments to equity and environmental sustainability. Ensuring our students have safe, inviting environments to learn and have reliable transportation to get there remains a top priority for our Board.
These safety measures are the foundation of student success, and we will continue to utilize these reports to keep operations transparent. You can view the full report below.
Meeting Materials | Video
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The School Board shares a commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for our students, and that requires clear expectations. At our May 7th meeting, the School Board officially voted to adopt the updated Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document for the upcoming school year. This approval follows a comprehensive review process involving months of collaboration, public feedback, and thoughtful discussion between the Board, FCPS Staff, parents, and students. Our updates focus on streamlining disciplinary language for consistency across all schools, clarifying cell phone and personal device expectations to protect instructional time, and enhancing our substance abuse prevention and intervention protocols.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the revision process to help us maintain safe, fair, and positive learning environments for all.
Meeting Materials | Video
Superintendent Updates
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