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The School Board adopted the school division’s advertised fiscal 2027 budget on Feb. 26, moving forward a proposal focused on student services, employee compensation and strategic investments.
Superintendent Michelle Reid called it a disciplined plan that would partially restore critical support, honor compensation commitments and keep attention on student outcomes.
Over the past decade, the school system has made more than $800 million in staffing reductions, avoided costs and fee increases to remain within available funding.
Residents can weigh in on the county’s fiscal 2027 budget through public hearings and town halls in March and April. The final school budget is scheduled for adoption in May.
Reid schedules spring community meetings
Reid will hold Community Conversations where residents can ask questions and offer feedback. The schedule includes:
- March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
- March 23 at Ravensworth Elementary School.
- April 13 at Belle View Elementary School.
- April 20 at Westgate Elementary School.
- April 22 at Crestwood Elementary School.
Unless noted otherwise, the meetings run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is optional but helps organizers plan child care and interpretation services.
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled for April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School. Anyone registered for the earlier date must register again.
Families with children entering kindergarten can attend a virtual Countdown to Kindergarten event March 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Participants must register to receive the event link.
Kindergarten enrollment requires families to determine eligibility, find their assigned school, gather documents, complete forms and schedule an appointment attended by the student and a caregiver.
Local high schools collect national honors
Seventeen high schools in the division earned places on the College Board’s 2025 Advanced Placement School Honor Roll.
Chantilly and McLean high schools were also among 26 schools nationwide chosen for the 2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. Chantilly has received the honor for 12 consecutive years, while McLean has won it for nine straight years.
Labor organizer and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta recently visited John R. Lewis High School, named for the congressman and civil rights figure with whom she once marched. Huerta encouraged students to take charge of their futures.
Literacy curriculum shows reported gains
During Read Across America Week, the school system highlighted its goal of having students read at grade level by the end of third grade.
The Benchmark Advance kindergarten-through-sixth-grade writing curriculum is in its second year. Teachers and school leaders report that students are producing stronger, more detailed and better-organized writing, with improvement visible in classroom work and assessments.
Reading specialists also support the literacy effort. Amanda Bontzos of Mantua Elementary School, a finalist last year for Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee, assists students and helps teachers strengthen their instruction.
Measles concerns rise ahead of travel season
The county Health Department is urging families to confirm they are protected against measles before international trips or visits to parts of the United States experiencing elevated activity.
The highly contagious virus can infect nine out of 10 exposed people who are neither vaccinated nor otherwise immune. The guidance follows cases in Northern Virginia and among travelers who passed through local airports.
Children at least 12 months old should have one or two vaccine doses before traveling. Depending on the destination, health care providers may recommend vaccination for infants ages 6 to 11 months.
Breakfast and social workers take the spotlight
National School Breakfast Week, observed March 2-6, brought attention to the role breakfast plays in nutrition and food security. Studies indicate that students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers.
Food and Nutrition Services introduced new menu items this year in response to student feedback and offers printable breakfast menus for families.
School Social Work Week recognized employees who address social, emotional and behavioral barriers to learning. Megan Jackson of Burke School was highlighted for her work with students, families and colleagues.
Celebration marks Black History Month milestone
Students played a leading role in the school system’s second annual Black History Month celebration at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event, themed “Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence,” coincided with the 100th anniversary of the movement that evolved into Black History Month.
Student-led Moments of Pride connected local and national history with contemporary achievements. Vernon Walton, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Vienna, delivered the keynote address, and the program featured a Black Excellence video tribute.
Magnet applications and boundary planning continue
Applications for the 2026-27 elementary magnet lottery are open through March 27. Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Primary and Bailey’s Upper elementary schools provide enhanced programs in science, technology and the performing arts.
Work is also underway to establish an attendance boundary for Skyview High School in western Fairfax County. A final boundary decision is expected in June 2026.
The process includes the Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes and Westfield high school pyramids, as well as their feeder elementary and middle schools. The analysis will seek to maintain aligned educational paths between school levels when possible.
Regional science fair needs more than 250 judges
The county’s Regional Science and Engineering Fair is scheduled for March 14 at Robinson Secondary School.
Organizers need more than 250 judges to evaluate projects in subjects ranging from astronomy and plant science to biomedical engineering. Judges should hold an advanced degree or have extensive academic or professional experience in their selected category.
Parents, teachers and family friends may not judge a category involving their child, student or friend’s child. Qualified volunteers must register by March 8.
An in-person hiring fair for special education and STEM teachers will also be held March 14, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School.
Clock change prompts student safety warning
Daylight saving time begins March 8 at 2 a.m., when clocks move forward by one hour.
Because some students may walk to school or bus stops in darkness, families are encouraged to use bright or reflective clothing and add reflective materials to backpacks. Students should watch for turning or reversing vehicles, avoid running into streets and never cross between parked cars.
Adult English courses open for spring
Adult and Community Education is scheduling its spring semester of in-person English classes. Offerings range from basic instruction for beginners to advanced courses supporting career development, with locations across the county.
Nominations for the A. Heath Onthank Award of Merit remain open until March 13 at 4:30 p.m. The honor recognizes operational employees who have made exceptional contributions to public service in county government or the school system.
Anyone may nominate a full-time operational employee with at least one year of service. Teachers and instructional assistants are ineligible. Honorees receive a plaque, $2,500 and recognition during a county supervisors meeting.