"Computer-led instruction is replacing teacher-led instruction at a critical stage of children's development."
Community speakers speak forcefully in favor of reducing the use of screen-based learning in elementary schools.
Mark Spooner raises troubling allegations that the SB held a closed mtg in February of 2025 (in violation of open mtg rules), to secretly add a second staffer for each SB member at a cost to taxpayers of more than $100k per staffer. share.google/3GnV1o6Xso35BL…
The mtg is the first one for new SB member Tom Dannan, who ran on a platform of increasing spending.
FCPS's budget has increased by over $1 billion in the last 6 years despite student enrollment declining, mainly due to ⬆️admin budgets & the SB gifting $ to teacher unions.
"I will not be able to vote for this motion, b/c the bd member proposed for vice chair of the budget cmte is currently involved in a legal matter that alleges he stole $ from a company."
Ms. Meren opposes the absurd proposal to make alleged embezzler Kyle McDaniel the vice chair of the budget cmte.
Ms. Meren also notes a second troubling allegation: that Mr. McDaniel may have used his 2 FCPS staff members to conduct political campaign activities during FCPS hours.
In a sign of how little accountability there is on the SB, the motion to make an alleged embezzler the budget vice chair sails through on a 7-3 vote.
Your tax dollars at work.
Dr. Reid represents compliance w FCPS's safety & security goals, noting new:
-radios,
-emergency response buttons,
-weapons detection systems
-canine detection efforts,
-bus tablets.
Dr. Reid shares that FCPS has secured a promise from VDOT to prioritize bus stops & routes when conducting snow prep & removal efforts.
The bus tablets will allow students to swipe RFID cards to ensure students are on the right bus & to allow better tracking of buses.
FCPS's CFO presents the 3rd quarter budget review which is a bit of a nothingburger, with no new adjustments from the previous quarter.
During the strategic plan update, Dr. Reid highlights the middle school theatre program.
Academic matters discusses the Walk to Read program, an early literacy pilot that uses intensive intervention with the aim of getting students to grade level by 3rd grade.
The mtg adjourns. Thank you for reading our 🧵.
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"Our data privacy policy has not been updated since 2015. The last review was 11 years ago."
The student rep calls for FCPS to update its outdated student privacy protections in light of vastly changed technological threats to student data.
The SB votes to name the new Western high school: "Skyview High School"
The name fits into a theme w the school offering specialized course options in aerospace sciences, AI, & advanced technology & innovation.
The SB approves the 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program.
The CIP anticipates continuing declines in enrollment w enrollment projected to decline to 171K (down more than 16K from before FCPS shutdown in 2020, despite the school budget increasing by $1 billion over that period).
During community participation, many community members ask Dr. Reid to delay the adoption of AI in schools, highlighting a recent Brookings report finding that the risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits share.google/O8CqMz1RAscMd2…
"The juice is not worth the squeeze."
Mr. McElveen says he will oppose the boundary changes proposed tonight as largely ineffectual, relative to the amount of time & resources spent, as Dr. Reid presents a scaled-down series of proposed boundary changes.
Mr. McElveen notes that the boundary change process resulted in only incremental changes at the cost of enormous community goodwill & will result in a continuous 5-year cycle of distraction & disruption.
Mr. Moon & Mr. Dunne also oppose the proposed boundary changes.
"The structure of the day & week is so inconsistent, my students have stopped asking why they have the day off. The joke at the HS is because it's Tuesday."
Dad challenges FCPS's incoherent calendar, & the severe disruption to learning from so many random days off.
"Lunch tables are limited to 4 students per table.. our kids are not able to play w friends in separate classes..students at lunch have been left to sit alone. I walked in to find my 1st grade daughter crying..When we've talked to school admin. about these policies, we've been told that it's for the students' safety."
Deer Park ES mom challenges school's bizarre refusal to repeal COVID era lunch & recess policies.
Minor legislative chaos breaks out as last minute changes to a recommended motion on phasing & programming at the new Western HS leaves the SB confused as to how to proceed.
"Students have experienced frustration with the weapons detection system leading to unexcused absences & tardys"
SB Mtg 🧵: the new student rep. flags how chaotic FCPS's process has been for implementing metal detector screening at high schools.
Earlier, community participation speakers expressed outrage over the news that Centreville HS staff facilitated two students' abortions w/o notifying parents.
Other speakers spoke in support of FCPS's policies on trans students.
The SB approves an $875K sole source contract to provide the Workplace Readiness Assessment, a test to measure the employability skills of Career & Technical Education students preparing for entry into the workforce or postsecondary education.
Seemingly every area politician shows up to attend the meeting, as the school board issues proclamations honoring the late Cong. Connolly & former SB member Janie Strauss.
"Some of the people on this SB who want to spend this $ on a 1-time bonus wanted to indefinitely postpone my budget amendments to make sure our kids are safe. I find that reprehensible.."
@mateodunne_sb expresses ire at a proposal to use $11 million to give employees 1-time bonuses, while scuttling, due to cost, Dunne's proposals at the last mtg for increased security.
@mateodunne_sb The SB votes to approve the bonuses, with 1-time $1000 bonuses going to most employees, funded from $19.7 million from Richmond & $11.7 million from FCPS funds.
The SB argues that spending the $11.7 million is necessary to avoid losing the Richmond funding.