Summary of November 14, 2024 School Board Meeting Notes
All Board members present: Mary Kadera, Chair, Bethany Zecher Sutton, Vice-Chair, Cristina Diaz-Torres, David Priddy, Miranda Turner
REGULAR MEETING OPENING:
7pm - Mary Kadera calls meeting to Order
Presentation of Colors: Arlington Career Center Space Force JROTC Cadets Corps
Spotlight on arts - Slam Poetry presentations by students from Gunston, Arlington Tech, and Arlington Montessori
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.
Vote: Motion to approve School Board Advisory Committee members. Passes 4-0. Priddy abstains.
Announced Personnel Actions approved under consent, including Brian Park to Director of Student Activities at Wakefield, Steven Bernheisel to Director, Maintenance Services, and Jessica Kingsley to Supervisor of Student Services
Announced approval of revisions to School Board Policy B-2.1 Boundaries, C-2.7 Superintendent Evaluation, and D-2.32 Joint County Board and School Board Activities
Announced the charged and approval of appointments for the School Board advisory work group
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Board Announcements
Nov 19 –Work Sessions, 9 a.m., Board Room
Nov 19 – Committee of the Whole, 2:45 p.m., Board Conference Room
Nov 19 – Closed Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
Nov 20 – Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 8 a.m., Board Conference Room
Nov 20-22 – VSBA Annual Convention, Williamsburg, VA
Nov 2 – Audit Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., Board Conference Room
Dec 4 – Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 8 a.m., Board Conference Room
Dec 12 – Closed Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
Dec 12 –School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Board Room (Final Meeting of 2024)
Kadera announced the Shriver School’s Margret Macdonald presented at the 2024 art education conference about adapting art classrooms for inclusive instruction
National School Psychology Week, November 11-15, 2024
2024 Arlington Chamber of Commerce Job Shadow Day on Nov. 7
Survey in ParentVUE open through Jan. 10, 2025 to assess APS participation in the Federal Impact Aid program.
The Options and Transfers applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open.
Winter weather policies - Up to 13 Snow Days, Extended Day will close when schools close on early release days, decisions are announced by 6 p.m. the evening, if necessary due to an uncertain forecast, the decision is announced in the morning by 5 a.m.
Sports Highlights
All 3 high schools are sending runners to State Cross Country Championships and Yorktown's entire Girls team is competing since they finished 2nd in the region
W-L & Yorktown football teams are heading into playoffs
W-L is undefeated in the regular season
Yorktown football head coach, Bruce Hanson, celebrated win #300
W-L had a golfer finish runner up in the regional individual championship
Kadera asked where students could go to find out how to participate in the work based education programs.
Priddy plugged the Federal Impact Aid program survey again
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
6 speakers:
Teacher speaking about cell phone device policy
Teacher speaking about school supply procurement process
ITC coordinator discussed the need for full time coordinator positions
Parent discussed the need to take steps to protect immigrant students.
Teacher discussed the need for more in person support, such as co-teachers.
Teacher discussed the problem with the level of importance placed on data collection and how it’s causing unneeded impacts on student success.
Kadrea recognised the winners of the recent APS School Board elections, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley and Kathleen A. Clark
V. MONITORING ITEMS:
Julie A. Crawford, Chief of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Student Support presented on the Bullying Prevention Monitoring Report.
Incidents can be reported online at: https://www.apsva.us/mental-health/bully-prevention/
Questions:
Priddy: Ask about how the code of conduct, which contains valuable information on bullying, is being promoted with parents and students?
Diaz-Torres: How is this data mapped by month to better identify inflection points that need to be addressed?
Diaz-Torres: Is there an alarming pattern for male hispanics? How are we deepening the focus on this sub-group?
Turner: Are there multiple repeated incidents reported in the total number? Do these numbers include parent and administrator reporting?
Turner: What is the process for a parent who is not receiving a response to a report within the policy timeframe? Can you report anonymously?
Kadrea: Who is going to help a parent/student from the “get-go” immediately after a report and during an investigation? How do we approach the response in a developmentally appropriate manner?
Zecher Sutton: How are we engaging parents more broadly and helping them to understand how to address behavior at home? Do you feel confident that we are equipping staff with the tools for handling in-the-moment situations?
Turner: Are there specific trainings that address ableism? How do we address cyber0-bullying done outside of schools and with personal devices?
VI. ACTION ITEMS:
The Board voted on the proposed construction contract award for the kitchen renovation project at Carlin Springs Elementary School.
Vote: Motion to approve passes 5-0.
The Board voted on the proposed construction contract award for the Kitchen Renovation project at Barrett Elementary School.
Vote: Motion to approve passes 5-0.
VII. INFORMATION ITEMS
Steven Marku, Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, shared a presentation of the new School Board Policy J-30 Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices.
Questions:
Turner: Do we prevent staff from friending students on social media?
Kadrea: Do we have additional survey responses on the policy yet?
Sarah Putnam, Executive Director, Curriculum & Instruction presented on Middle and High School Program of Studies proposals.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
