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The Fairfax County School Board moved toward a March 3, 2026, special election for its vacant Braddock District seat during a wide-ranging Dec. 18 meeting that also brought decisions on advanced academic programs, the midyear budget and school transportation.
The board directed its legal counsel to petition the Fairfax County Circuit Court for a writ authorizing the special election.
The evening began with the second and final public hearing on the name of Fairfax County Public Schools’ new Western High School. One person addressed the board during the hearing, which started at 7:01 p.m.
The regular meeting opened at 7:14 p.m. Hughes Middle School student Allison Korb performed the national anthem. Board Chair Karl Frisch welcomed City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches and Vice Chair Kristina Cecere.
Board members approved a proclamation honoring departing member Rachna Sizemore Heizer, who then delivered remarks. Eight people spoke during the community participation period, and student representative Faith Mekonen presented student matters.
Budget, transportation and land-use decisions
The board accepted the Goal 5 Strategic Plan Report for the 2025-26 school year and approved revenue and spending changes included in the fiscal 2026 midyear budget review.
A motion to provide transportation only in cases involving new boundary adjustments failed.
The board also instructed Superintendent Michelle C. Reid to pursue a comprehensive resolution of floor-area-ratio issues affecting FCPS campuses on land zoned Residential-Conservation.
New advanced academic centers approved
Board members approved a new full-time Advanced Academic Program center at Poe Middle School, beginning with sixth grade in the 2026-27 school year.
They also adopted a phase-in option allowing affected students now attending Canterbury Woods Elementary in grades three through six—whose base schools are Annandale Terrace, Braddock or North Springfield—to remain at Canterbury Woods through sixth grade.
Another phase-in option covers Mason Crest students in the Falls Church pyramid who currently receive AAP center services at Belvedere Elementary in grades three through five.
Staff members were directed to begin community engagement on a proposal for a full-time AAP center at North Springfield Elementary School, starting with third grade in 2026-27.
Committee restructuring dispute deferred
The board considered rescinding its Dec. 4 decision to change the structure of the Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee and end the Facilities Planning Advisory Council.
An amendment to the motion resulted in a tie while the full board was not present. Under Virginia law, the entire item was deferred until the next regular meeting.
Reid also presented an Academic Matters report on School Performance and Support Framework outcomes.
As part of its consent agenda, the board approved minutes from four earlier meetings, the November 2025 employee separation report, a Strategic Governance Manual revision concerning public hearings and several contracts.
Items introduced for possible action at a later meeting included a monitoring report on relationships with families and community stakeholders, a net-zero motion, proposed Governance Manual amendments and a contract for temperature-control system replacement at Chesterbrook Elementary School.
Future business also included land rights needed for the Tysons West sanitary sewer project at Flint Hill Elementary School and an adjustment to the architectural and engineering contract for the Armstrong Elementary School renovation.
The regular meeting ended at 11:29 p.m. The board’s next scheduled meetings were an Audit Committee meeting Jan. 5, a Governance Committee meeting Jan. 6 and a regular meeting Jan. 8.