Summary 4/7/22 School Board Meeting
The School Board meeting began with the presentation of colors. The School Board approved an adjustment to the APS calendar making Mon, May 2, a no school day for students & a holiday for staff instead of Tue, May 3, as currently listed on the 2021-22 school year calendar. Mr. Goldstein reported on an Arlington Career Center culinary arts competition that led to several scholarships for participants, as well as happenings at various APS elementary schools..
Dr. Durán discussed that April is the Month of the Military Child and encouraged all staff and pupils to wear purple on April 22, which is ‘Purple Up Day’. He discussed the celebration of National Assistant Principals Week, happening now. He briefly reviewed Ramadan which is being celebrated this month. Also, the Your Voice Matters survey has been extended to April 24th; all are encouraged to complete it as only 17% of parents have done so thus far. He reviewed the Scientist in the Classroom program and showed a lengthy video.
Ms. Kadera emphasized the importance of community partnerships, and commended Dr. Durán and APS for their use of them.
Public comment included three speakers on the planetarium, three on the Arlington Career Center plans, and three discussing the need for more academic and mental health supports in schools, including two speakers from APE.
Two action items were on the agenda.
(1) Board moved to unanimously approve the proposed construction contract award for the Gunston Middle School Entrance renovation project.
Ms. Kadera had the sole question - asking when the renovations to all entrances of our schools will be completed. Staff says in the next 3 to 4 years.
Mathews Group Inc receives the Gunston contract for $1,612,114
(2) Board moved to unanimously approve the revised Proposed FY 2023 budget.
Expenditures in the original budget were $746,138,793. Revised expenditures now listed at $748,494,118
Revised budget includes updates for enrollment and staffing $650,918; Virtual learning update ($832,028 in red); and a $2,536,435 update in Compensation.
Dr. Durán was very pleased to offer the improved compensation to teachers, “Look where the money goes and it tells you where our values are.”
As newest member, Ms. Kardera noted that it “looks like we’ve made it through the eye of the storm of the pandemic” and that now [APS] can focus on making sure students can recover and thrive - this includes making sure students’ basic needs are met, that each school has a healthy school culture and that strong academics mean well compensated teachers.
Budget will be finalized on May 12.
A bulk of the meeting, over an hour and half, was spent in robust discussion regarding the Career Center Project Proposed Concept Design.
A Presentation was given by:
Reneé Harber, Assistant Superintendent, Facilities and Operations; Jeffrey Chambers, Director Design and Construction; and Benjamin Burgin, Assistant Director Design and Construction.
Background: In October 2021, the School Board approved FY 2023-32 CIP Direction asking staff to begin work on the Arlington Career Center (ACC) concept design using the:
• Maximum total project cost of $170.48 million;
Proposed Base (capacity 1795) and Alternative Educational Specifications (Ed. Specs.) (capacity 1345).
Construction is set to begin in December 2023 with completion in April 2027.
New updates:
Estimated costs of the project have increased since October 2021
• +2.4% ($4.14M) for the Base Ed. Specs.
+3.5% ($5.40M) for the Alternative Ed. Specs
Staff cites these increases due to construction costs; market conditions resulting in including a higher per annum escalation rate and planning for further increases in construction costs. Staff also noted that the Base Ed specs includes 450 seats for middle school students.
Mr. Goldstein, was one of two school board members to express budgetary concerns regarding the excessive cost of this project. “Do we have enough money? I’m afraid we don’t,” he said. Staff assured him that the layers of contingency in the plan is what they are “comfortable with”.
Mr. Goldstein also took issue with the addition of 450 seats for middle school students - an item that the school board has not voted on yet. Ms. Loft noted that there is a gap in project based learning at the middle school level. These seats would fill that gap. She cited a round of work she completed with instructional staff and principals and said 89% of that group are in favor of looking at inclusion of a middle school program at Arlington Tech. “This is instruction leading construction,” Ms. Loft explained. Mr. Goldstein responded, “Yes, but this needs to be approved by the board …This part is giving me heartburn. I’ve got a lot of questions.”
Ms. Kadera, who says she supports the project, shared concerns, and heartburn, about the costs. “What is helpful is to understand the opportunity cost of approving this at the price tag associated with it,” she noted, “We could choose not to spend as much.”
For his part, Mr. Goldstein stated he has no intention of delaying the project, but he does “need more insight into the future vision to know that this is the right direction.”
He also called out the School board for its poor practice of setting a dollar amount and “always” acquiescing. “We need to not send the message to the community that we will at first opportunity bust our own cap,” he said. Mr. Goldstein added that the school board owes “it to the taxpayers to understand that we understand and can explain that the step to approve the concept design is the right step to achieve the long range vision of the CIP.”
Chair Kanninen reminded him that the school board approved this direction back in October. “You said we gave direction in October, “ he replied to her. ”We did. For $171M and for $153M .. we don’t have that today. The costs are higher.”
Mr. Goldstein asked Dr. Durán if the CIP could be brought to the school board sooner for examination. A firm no from the Superintendent and a deflection from the Board Chair concluded the meeting.
See our Scorecard for this meeting here.
