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Thomas F. Dannan II took the oath of office as the Fairfax County School Board’s Braddock District representative on March 19, opening a meeting that also covered school safety, the budget and a proposed Advanced Academic Program center.
The oath ceremony began at 6:22 p.m. with the Lake Braddock Secondary School Army JROTC presenting the colors and the Lake Braddock Middle School Chamber Orchestra performing the national anthem. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen C. Shannon administered Dannan’s oath.
At 6:46 p.m., the board held a public hearing on a staff proposal to add an Advanced Academic Center at North Springfield Elementary School. No speakers testified.
The regular meeting began at 7 p.m. Board Chair Dr. Anderson welcomed student representatives participating in the Student Leadership Development Program. Nine people later addressed the board during community participation, and student representative Faith Mekonen delivered a report.
The board approved proclamations recognizing Women’s History Month, School Social Work Appreciation Week, social and emotional learning, and the 2025 Bond Citizens Committee. The bond committee proclamation also affirmed the importance of maintaining a triple-A bond rating.
Members approved additional board committee and liaison assignments and awarded a sole-source contract to the Washington Lacrosse Umpires Association for girls lacrosse officiating services.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid presented the annual monitoring report for Executive Limitation 13, which governs safety and security. The board found the superintendent in compliance and approved the 2025-26 school year report. Through its consent agenda, the board also kept the safety and security policy unchanged in the Strategic Governance Manual.
Reid joined Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden and Budget Services Executive Director Alice Wigington to present the fiscal year 2026 third-quarter budget review.
The board also received a strategic plan update on middle school theater arts from Reid, Fine Arts K-12 Senior Manager Aaron Stratton and Theatre Arts Educational Specialist Tara Taylor. Reid presented an additional academic update on the “Walk to Read” approach.
As part of the consent agenda, members adopted minutes from the Feb. 12 regular meeting and awarded several contracts.
Several proposals were introduced for future action without a vote. They included a Strategic Plan Goal 2 report; community appointments to the Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee; a motion on athletic facility naming rights; the third-quarter budget review; architectural and engineering services for the Skyview High School project; and policies concerning property acquisition, value engineering and maintenance of school facilities.
The board also introduced Virginia School Board Association 2026 Business Honor Roll nominations.
Ryan McElveen reported on the Audit Committee, Karl Frisch reported on the Administration Committee, and Laura Jane Cohen Meren reported on the Governance Committee. Reid later delivered her superintendent’s report.
The meeting adjourned at 11:16 p.m. The board’s next regular meeting was scheduled for March 26 at 7 p.m.