Summary: 9/9/21 SB Meeting

At last night's School Board Meeting we heard the following:

• Virtual Learning Program: The board heard from many parents who were upset with the Virtual learning program. Dr. Durán and Board discussed issues.

  • It was noted that 340 of 711 enrolled students (almost half) did not receive what they needed (in terms of a schedule or teachers) in first weeks of the program;

  • There are still 15 teacher vacancies;

  • Many families feeling no connection to their home school;

  • APS actions include hiring a new administrator, holding regular cyber chats with parents, hiring a counselor dedicated to the VLP; and working on finalizing schedules for secondary students.

• World Language Program: The Board also heard from many parents who were upset about issues with the World Language program, many of which centered on the loss of a German instructor. APS said the instructor quit just before school started, and APS had to find a way to fill the class (which is being done virtually). APS states that it is committed to world languages.

• Arlington Parents for Education: Board heard from three speakers from Arlington Parents for Education, including addressing our overall priorities for the year, the urgent need to focus on learning loss recovery, and the implications of APS’ decline in enrollment. Watch the remarks here.

• COVID:

  • Board spent substantial time discussing COVID issues. 5000 students (around 18.5% of student population) signed up for Covid testing.

  • Due to a national shortage of rapid testing capabilities, APS will use PCR tests. 94% of staff have a fully verified vaccination status.

  • In the first week, 11 students and 5 staff were positive for Covid, and 5 staff.

  • Dr. Durán spent a bit of time emphasizing the need for parents/students to fill out online verification;

• Additional Employee Health Benefit: Dr. Durán announced that APS would offer IVF as a new employee health benefit

• Other Topics:

  • Upcoming Board meetings will address math (Sept. 30), and the VLP program (Oct. 14).

  • Board discussed as an information item a new policy on physical interventions.

  • Board discussed facility changes at Cardinal elementary to put stormwater management system under field. Cost is $12.6M, but county is paying for all of it.

• Overall Allocation of Board time:

  • The Board spent twice as much time discussing the VLP program (which serves 2.7% of APS population) as any operation issues related to in-person schools.

  • The Board spent no time discussing academics or curriculum (other than 4 minutes discussing the world language program);

  • The Board spent no time discussing learning loss, the special needs population, or equity issues.

See our new Meeting Scorecard HERE.