Summary of January 30, 2025 School Board Meeting
All Board members present: Mary Kadera, Chair, Bethany Zecher Sutton, Miranda Turner, Kathleen Clark, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley
REGULAR MEETING OPENING:
7pm - Mary Kadera calls meeting to Order
Presentation of Colors: Arlington Career Center Space Force JROTC Cadets Corps
Showcase of the Arts: Kenmore Excerpt from; “The Drowsy Chaperone”
Special recognition was given to Veterans of Foreign Wars in honor of veteran day, Purple Star Award Schools, and School Bond Chairs following the approval of the school bond in the recent election.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Vote: Motion to approve consent agenda passes 5-0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Safety Concerns
Dr. Durán addresses safety concerns related to arrest of a sex offender on school premises during community use hours. He reiterates safety of school and community members and that as soon as they were aware of the individual’s status APS immediately prohibited the offender from school premises. APS is strengthening sign-in procedures on school facilities, including a 100% ID check that will be cross checked against sex offender database. This system should be implemented by end of February.
Chair Kadera addresses School Board’s knowledge of the indecent exposure in a locker room, including an open office hours session where Ms. Kadera was informed of the offender’s actions in a locker room. As a result, of being informed of the incident (but without knowledge of the person’s registered sex offender status), signage was placed around the locker room to cover intimate body areas, close shower curtains, and follow locker room etiquette guidance.
Feb 3 - Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 8 a.m., Board Conference Room
Feb 11 – Work Session #2 with Advisory Council on Teaching and Learning (ACTL), 6:30 pm, Board Room
Feb 13 – School Board Meeting, 7 pm, Board Room
Kadera announced a readout from Arlington Science Focus School’s spelling contest.
Superintendent's Announcements and Updates
- Immigration Resources. Dr. Durán confirms that APS does not ask about immigration status consistent with federal law. Shares information on family rights and resources which can be accessed on APS’s website. School staff have received training in responding to law enforcement concerning immigration issues. Immigration officers are not permitted to enter schools or remove students without following proper protocols.
- Arts in APS video
- Enhanced Safety and Security Updates – Entry protocols, school safety coordinators, tighter security control will be shared with families in early February
- February Recognitions
- Bright Spot – HB Woodlawn Student nominate for 2025 US Presidential Scholars Program
Zuraya Tapia-Hadley expresses appreciation for the safety and immigration updates.
Bethany Zecher Sutton expresses appreciation for immigration update and that APS is source of support and resource for immigrant families.
Ms. Kadera likes the video of art teachers and recalls Swanson student sharing value of theater to her development. She also shares support of immigration updates and inclusion of APS’s diverse community.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
Women’s sports expert identifying as a Democrat asks APS to restrict women’s locker rooms to women and girls
APS teacher opposes calendar proposal because not enough time dedicated for parent-teacher conferences and not consistent with collective bargaining agreement.
APS students advocate for Japanese language offerings.
APS nonbinary student thanks APS for supportive environment for transgender kids and requests that APS not rescind transgender policies in light of recent events.
Community members admonish APS for failure to respond to a registered sex offender in a girls/women’s locker room. Additional signage not sufficient and police should have been immediately called. Reports go back to June about indecent exposures in W-L lockers. There are calls for a full investigation, establishment of a timeline, and requests to reconsider transgender policy.
Community members address and support transgender nondiscrimination policy and thanks APS for response to sex offender entering the pool locker room. Alarmed by insinuations that the gender identity of the sex offender is relevant to the incident. Some request that the APS school board publicly reject the President’s Executive Order and affirm support of current transgender policy.
Community member calls for more detailed plans should federal immigration officers request access to APS property. Stresses that ICE cannot enter school property without a warrant.
Several APS ITCs (Instruction Technology Coordinators) concerned that pay scale moving back to 10-mos salary will significantly reduce ITC salaries. Strongly advocate for remaining 12-mos employees to ease iPad/laptop distribution and app and technology trainings.
Chair Kadera acknowledges that many of the issues we deal with are deeply personal and she has great appreciation for the civil discourse in our community and decorum at the meeting.
V. MONITORING ITEMS:
Arts Education Monitoring Report.
Dr. Farrell, Supervisor, Arts Education provides an update on Arts programs in APS. Art is an essential part of curriculum and an important part of social emotional growth of students. Enrollment data in arts programs show that almost 50% of middle and secondary students take arts courses. Enrollment by race, ethnicity, SWD, ELL, and economically disadvantaged status mostly mirrors APS demographics. Arts Education Program will continue to develop an inclusive curriculum and integrate literacy and professional learning for all staff.
Questions:
Zecher Sutton: What would you most hope to see APS doing in the Arts in 5 years?
- Hope we are reinventing something. Don’t know where AI will take us. The future is bright.
Turner: Can you speak to how Arts education is enhanced by field trips? Can we leverage our community partnerships to ensure field trips.
- Special programs may require transit and those are funded. At a school level, funds for field trips have decreased but some PTAs may make up funds for that.
Kadera: What type of professional learning have staff found most valuable? Need training on advanced learners and identify students gifted in the arts.
VI. Information ITEMS:
Proposed School Calendars 2026-27 and 2027-28 School Years
- Calendar process has changed and it will be prepared in accordance with guidelines. Public should provide comments within guidelines prior to the school board meeting on February 13.
- VA Code requires school to be 180 days or 990 instructional hours and Friday before Labor Day must be closed.
- Guidelines require school to start at least 1 week prior to Labor Day. Coordination and alignment for seasonal breaks with neighboring jurisdictions.
- Calendar committee raised concerns about consecutive early release days, two week winter break, sufficient time for parent-teacher conferences.
- Proposed calendar provides the equivalent of 13 days over the required 990 instructional hours.
- Members of the community should email Engage to provide feedback on the calendar.
Questions:
Tapia-Hadley: Does the calendar propose to change the amount of time that teachers have for students?
- Same amount of time available but the distribution is different. Conferences will be across 3 early release days instead of 1 and ½ days.
Zecher-Sutton: What edits by committee were discussed? Surrounding districts rely on 990 hours but APS focuses on 180 days. Committee thought we should switch to hours to have more flexibility.
Turner: Very supportive of 180 days and structure for our kids. Asks about winter break difference between 2 school years (i.e., 2 weeks in one year).
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
