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Fairfax County’s School Board is set to consider revised school boundary changes and hear Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s proposed fiscal 2026-27 budget during a packed schedule on Thursday, January 22.
The board will hold a public hearing on the amended boundary proposal at 6:15 p.m. at Jackson Middle School. A vote on the changes and their implementation is scheduled for later that evening during the regular business meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.
Reid revised her January 8 boundary recommendation after receiving additional community feedback, including testimony at public hearings on January 10 and 13. The updated executive summary adds sites for review by January 2027 and during the next boundary-review cycle.
A separate boundary review for the new western high school will begin after the board acts on the current comprehensive review.
Fairfax students earn national science honors
Nine Fairfax County students were named among the 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars. Eight attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, while one attends Chantilly High School.
Reid recently visited Thomas Jefferson for an event recognizing the school’s honorees.
Woodson High School student Barrett Pullen is also drawing national attention. After taking up shot put with a 12-pound metal ball in ninth grade, he has become one of the country’s highest-ranked high school competitors in the event.
Special education conference opens registration
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, “Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools,” is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Marshall High School.
Educator and advocate Dr. Shelley Moore will speak at the event. Families can also attend afternoon sessions, meet other families and connect with available resources.
Registration is open, with childcare, accommodations and language interpretation available. Volunteers may register through Friday, February 20, and participating students can receive volunteer hours.
Mobile app puts school updates in one place
The FCPS mobile app allows families to follow multiple schools and receive customized feeds of announcements, events and notices.
District announcements, live updates and calendars are available without signing in, though secure services such as SIS ParentVUE still require a password. Users can also receive push notifications about urgent developments, including weather delays and closures.
The app includes bell schedules, staff directories, athletic locations and school menus. Automatic translation is supported in more than 100 languages, and the app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Academy open houses continue
High school academy open houses will continue into February, giving prospective students opportunities to visit classrooms and laboratories and meet instructors and counselors.
The academies operate within high schools and provide advanced technical and specialized courses designed to prepare students for college or careers. Electives span more than a dozen fields and can include mentoring, job shadowing and internships with local businesses.
Families encouraged to strengthen communication
Parents seeking better conversations with their children are being encouraged to limit distractions and create an environment where young people feel comfortable speaking openly.
Other recommendations include listening carefully, acknowledging a child’s feelings even during disagreements and asking “how” questions that invite fuller answers about their experiences. Additional guidance is available for conversations about difficult subjects, including fentanyl.
Employees recognized for exceptional support
Ruby Brown, a math teacher at Stone Middle School, was among the October FCPS CARES of the Month recipients.
Brown’s nominator praised her for staying after school to connect with a socially isolated student and for helping students develop confidence and self-esteem.
Other honorees were Luis Cardona of the Gatehouse Administration Center; Sam Kobman and Stephanie Keller of Stonecroft Transportation; Robert Snell and Preeti Singh of Forest Edge Elementary School; Phillip Isberner of Cameron Elementary School; Jacqueline Naughton of Lake Braddock Secondary School; and Bryan Villalobos of Hayfield Secondary School.
Quarter-end closures and ParentVUE outage approaching
Wednesday, January 28, is the final day of the quarter and will be an early-release day for students.
Students will not attend school Thursday, January 29, because of a staff development day or Friday, January 30, because of a teacher workday.
SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable to students and parents while end-of-quarter updates are completed. The outage is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, and end at 6 a.m. Thursday, February 5.
Gap Year Fair set for January 28
FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will hold the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, at Marshall High School.
The event will introduce students to opportunities available during the year after graduation. Registration is being handled through USA Gap Year Fairs.
Adult education classes discounted for one day
FCPS Adult and Community Education will offer a $26 discount on each eligible class purchased Monday, January 26.
Customers may register for multiple classes and apply the discount to each qualifying purchase using the promotional code TWACE26. Restrictions apply.
Asbestos plans available for public inspection
Updated asbestos-management plans for every school building are available for public review in each building’s main office during regular school hours.
Asbestos was phased out of most construction materials after 1977, and schools built after 1986 are expected to be free of the material. FCPS has also removed asbestos-containing products during renovations of older buildings.
Federal rules require annual inspections at all schools, including those constructed after 1986, and require each site to maintain an asbestos-management plan. FCPS completed the required Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act reinspection and surveillance of all school buildings for fiscal 2025.