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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.
Dear Dranesville Families:
As we move into the final weeks of the 2025-26 school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate and look ahead with gratitude and excitement.
I want to encourage all students to attend school through the last day. Learning, classroom activities, and opportunities to connect with peers and teachers continue right up until the final bell. Every day matters and finishing the year strong sets the stage for next school year.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Graduation season is one of the most joyful times, and I look forward to celebrating with our seniors. This graduating class has demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and remarkable achievement throughout their FCPS journey. As sixth graders, their promotion ceremonies and end-of-year celebrations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The School Board is scheduled to discuss the calendar Policy on June 11th. Please complete the calendar survey sent to you yesterday, June 4th by June 22nd. Family input is critical to this process. Your feedback helps ensure that our calendars reflect the needs and priorities of students, families, and staff. Additional information about the survey can be found later in this newsletter.
The Governance Committee's work on the Innovation in Instructional Technology Policy continues at our next meeting on June 16th. This work helps guide how we thoughtfully integrate technology into teaching and learning while supporting student achievement and responsible use.
One of my favorite parts of each newsletter is sharing the incredible accomplishments, recognitions, performances, and events taking place across Dranesville. Our students and staff continue to inspire me with their creativity, talent, service, and dedication. I am especially excited to attend the Cappies Gala, where student performers and student critics from across our region are recognized for their outstanding work in theater arts and journalism. Congratulations to Langley HS's and McLean HS's nominations in the Best Play category!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students, schools, and community this school year. I wish you a safe, enjoyable, and restorative summer break.
Regards,
Robyn
Robyn Lady visited Lemon Road ES to congratulate Mrs. Gina Caccavale and the Algebra 1 Honors class on a 24/24 scoring in the Pass Advanced range on their SOL this year.
Fairfax County School Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
On May 21, the Fairfax County School Board unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Approved Budget, continuing Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) commitment to sustaining excellence by prioritizing competitive compensation and strategic investments that support student success.
The adopted budget reflects FCPS’ ongoing efforts to navigate a challenging fiscal environment shaped in part by chronic state underfunding and economic uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the budget maintains key investments and restores several reductions made during the prior fiscal year
Strategic and Operational Adjustments
To address remaining budget pressures, the adopted budget includes a combination of operational adjustments and cost-saving measures, including:
- Reductions to the staffing reserve.
- Leveraging alternative major maintenance funding.
- Extending the refresh cycle for FCPSOn technology devices.
- Deferring microcredentialing initiatives.
- Reducing math curriculum adoption materials.
- Reductions to the Superintendent’s Strategic Reserve.
Advocate to Virginian Lawmakers on Commonwealth Budget
The Virginia budget is still not finalized. The House of Delegates reconvenes its special session on June 18 at 10 a.m., followed by the Senate on June 22 at 12 p.m.
Share your family's priorities with the membership of the General Assembly’s budget committees:
May 21st Regular Meeting
Watch the full meeting.
The performance of the National Anthem by the Spring Hill Elementary School Strong Orchestra under the direction of Margot Mevinsky.
Key Votes
FY 2027 Approved Budget
The School Board voted to adopt the FY 2027 Approved Budget. View more on BoardDocs.
Presentations
Academic Matters- Secondary Literacy Update
In the Academic Matters portion of the May 21st meeting, Dr. Reid discussed literacy instruction in middle and high schools. She shared a video featuring teachers discussing the exciting shift toward a more rigorous curriculum that uses complex texts and advanced strategies to teach reading and writing. Read more about literacy in secondary schools.
Thank you Dranesville Community Advisory Committee Representatives
Every year, the School Board appoints members to our seven Citizen Advisory Committees. I appreciate their time, expertise and commitment to Dranesville, the committee work, and all FCPS. The addition of our community representatives add invaluable insight, expertise, and personal experiences to the work of these Committees and the School Board. Their advocacy and knowledge provide me with a broader understanding of their committee’s goals, needs, and future directions. Thank you for all your work.
Thank you to Aaliyah Kissick (ACEAC), Heather Murphy Capps (MSAOC), Dr. Chaitamya Puri (SHAC) for their service as Dranesville representatives.
2025-26 Advisory Committee Representatives:
- Advanced Academic Programs AC (AAPAC)- Randi Cosentino
- Adult And Community Education AC (ACEAC)- Aaliyah Kissick
- Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities- Colleen Paparella
- Career and Technical Education AC (CTEAC)- Ruhana Hafiz
- Facilities Planning AC (FPAC)- Dianna Bo
- Minority Student Advisory Oversight Committee (MSAOC)- Heather Murphy Capps
- School Health AC (SHAC)- Chaitamya Puri
Advisory Committee Summits:
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May 30, 2026: ACSD; CTEAC; MSAOC; and SHAC.
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Upcoming, June 13, 2026: ACEAC; AAPAC; FPAC; and Title I Parent Advisory Committee
Governance Committee Meetings
Upcoming Meeting:
You can watch previous Governance Committee Meetings where we discussed the Innovation in Instructional Technology Policy and Calendar Policy.
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May 19
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April 21
- Innovation in Instructional Technology Policy (at 01:13:23)
- Calendar Policy (at 00:04:20)
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April 14
- Innovation in Instructional Technology Policy (at 00:19:40)
- Calendar Policy (at 01:40:10)
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March 17
- Innovation in Instructional Technology Policy (at 00:02:55)
- Calendar Policy (at 01:23:00)
Volunteer for a Dranesville Community Advisory Committee Representatives
If you would like to be considered for an Advisory Committee opening, please fill out a form for each committee opening by June 26th. Please share why you would like to be a representative and why you would be a great fit for any of these committees. Please email Dranesvillestaff@fcps.edu if you have any questions.
Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC)
ACEAC represents the community and brings to the School Board’s attention to resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. The Dranesville representative will serve August 2026 - July 2027. See the ACEAC website for more information.
Minority Student Advisory Oversight Committee (MSAOC)
MSAOC advocates for students who are underserved by identifying, reviewing, and assessing issues affecting minority student academic achievement within the policies, curriculum, practices, and procedures of FCPS. The Dranesville representative will serve August 2026 - July 2027. See the MSAOC website for more information.
Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
Each school board may establish a school health advisory board of no more than twenty members which shall consist of broad-based community representation including, but not limited to, parents, students, health professionals, educators, and others. The advisory board shall assist with the development of health policy in the school division and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, the school environment, and health services. The Dranesville representative will serve August 2026 - July 2027. See the SHAC website for more information.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
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Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m.- Regular Meeting
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Tuesday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m.- Forum
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Tuesday, June 23 at 11:30 a.m.- All Day Work Session
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Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.- Regular Meeting
All times and topics are subject to change. Please check the School Board meeting schedule for the latest times and agenda updates.
How to watch meetings and sign up to speak:
May 2026 Audit Buzz Newsletter
In this issue, we summarize the May 11 Audit Committee meeting; celebrate Internal Audit Awareness Month; and offer a training opportunity. Prior editions of Audit Buzz are archived here on Office of Auditor General (OAG) website.
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