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Fairfax County school leaders will take up two major issues Thursday, January 22, as Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presents her proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget and the School Board considers revised school boundary changes.
A public hearing on the amended boundary proposal will begin at 6:15 p.m. at Jackson Middle School. The board’s regular business meeting follows at 7 p.m., with a vote on the boundary recommendations and their implementation scheduled for later that evening.
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 others slated for the next boundary-review cycle.
The boundary review for the new western high school will begin after the board votes on the current comprehensive review.
Fairfax Students Earn National Science Recognition
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 honoring the scholars.
Woodson High School student Barrett Pullen is also receiving national attention. Pullen began shot put in ninth grade with a 12-pound metal ball and has since become one of the country’s top-ranked high school competitors.
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 connect with resources and other families and participate in afternoon sessions.
Registration is open, with childcare, accommodations and language interpretation available. Those interested in volunteering must register by Friday, February 20. Student volunteers will receive service hours.
School App Offers Alerts in More Than 100 Languages
The FCPS app allows families to follow multiple schools and receive a customized feed of notices, news and events.
District announcements, live updates and school calendars are available without signing in, although secure services such as SIS ParentVUE still require a password. The app can also send urgent notifications about weather delays and closures.
Other features include bell schedules, staff directories, school menus and athletic-event locations. Automatic translation is available in more than 100 languages, and the app can be downloaded through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Academy Open Houses Continue Into February
High school academy open houses will continue through February, giving interested students opportunities to tour classrooms and laboratories and meet instructors and counselors.
Located within high schools, the academies provide advanced technical and specialized courses designed to prepare students for college or careers. Students can explore more than a dozen career fields and may gain experience through mentoring, job shadowing and internships with local businesses.
Families Encouraged to Strengthen Communication
Parents seeking stronger connections with their children are encouraged to minimize distractions and create an environment where young people feel comfortable speaking openly.
Other recommendations include listening closely, acknowledging children’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 Honored for Supporting Students
Ruby Brown, a math teacher at Stone Middle School, was among the October FCPS CARES of the Month recipients.
Brown was nominated for spending time after school connecting 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’s End Brings Closures and ParentVUE Outage
Wednesday, January 28, is the final day of the quarter and an early-release day for students.
Students will not attend school Thursday, January 29, because of a staff development day, or Friday, January 30, which is a teacher workday.
SIS ParentVUE will be unavailable to students and parents during end-of-quarter updates beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, January 28. Access is expected to resume 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 highlight opportunities available to students during the year after graduation. Registration is available through USA Gap Year Fairs.
Adult Education Classes Discounted January 26
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 one using the code TWACE26, subject to the program’s restrictions.
Updated Asbestos Plans Available for Review
Updated asbestos management plans for every school building are available for public review in each building’s main office during regular school hours.
FCPS completed the asbestos reinspection and surveillance required under the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act for fiscal year 2025.
Although asbestos was discontinued in most construction materials after 1977 and schools built after 1986 should not contain it, federal rules require annual inspections at every school. FCPS has also removed asbestos-containing materials during renovations of older buildings.