March 26, 2026 School Board Meeting Notes
Meeting Open
Consent Agenda Unanimously Adopted
Personnel Actions
New School Board Policy G-1.8 Employee Conflict of Interests and G-30 Whistleblower Protection
Membership Changes to School Board Advisory Committees
PA-SY26-01
Board Announcements
The School Board will hold the following upcoming meetings:
April 8 – Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 8:30 a.m., Board Conference Room
April 10 – Audit Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., Microsoft Teams
April 14 – Work Sessions, 9 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., Board Room
April 14 – Committee of the Whole Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Board Room
April 14 – Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget, 7 p.m., Board Room
April 16 – Closed Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
April 16 – School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Board Room
Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates
Superintendent Dr. Durán thanked staff for their work.
In his Superintendent updates, Dr. Durán highlighted the upcoming panel on AI in Education on Tuesday, April 7, at 6pm at Wakefield High School Auditorium; conclusion of the Your Voice Matters Survey which garnered nearly 25,000 responses; upcoming dates and recognitions; services over spring break; Transgender youth quilt project, and employees of the year.
Public Comment
Speakers spoke on several topics, with the budget being the most prominent:
The proposed budget, and concerns about proposed cuts to staffing and programs, with an emphasis on a need to protect classroom teachers and small class sizes.
Request for more consistent services and staffing for special education.
The proposed calendar change – some supported and some were against, emphasizing the impact on instructional time, family schedules and childcare.
Proposed changes to advisory committees and the reduction in representation opportunities.
Concerns from the local community about the lease amendment for the Quincy site
Importance of mental health support and safe and inclusive school environments.
Action Item #1 – Revisions to School Board Policy B-3.6.30 School Board Advisory Committees
Board Chair Zecher Sutton presented the proposed Policy Changes to the School Board Advisory Committees. Board Member Mo Bryant presented a motion to adopt, and Board Member Miranda Turner seconded it. Ms. Zecher Sutton then proposed an amendment to remove the listing of specific subcommittees because she believes that the purpose of the policy is to set broad parameters about the nature, structure, and framework of something, but not to include specific details. Although these four academic subcommittees are important, she believes there are other ways and practices to address the need.
Ms. Turner opposes the Amendment because she believes that the School Board can decide what is policy and she thinks that the Board should want to focus on these four core areas under the Academics Council as standing subcommittees and priorities.
Board Member Tapia-Hadley opposes the Amendment because she believes that the subcommittees are an important way to include voices across the school community. She’s already concerned about the large reduction in the number of seats to engage on School Board issues that this policy brings about, given the large community in APS. She’s pleased that there is a council level group focused on English Language Learners. She believes that specifically naming academic subcommittees allows the School Board greater transparency, direction, and community engagement, and reduces uncertainty, allows greater representation and continuity of service. She thinks the motion (without the amendment) is a fair balance between reducing the structure and maintaining priorities.
Board Member Clark wants to be more flexible to address greater needs and believes that through the councils the School Board will be able to reach a greater audience with a larger team to vet ideas more thoroughly.
Board Member Bryant supports the Amendment. She believes in the need to intentionally preserve flexibility in the council and committee structure. She believes that the Amendment retains the ability to be responsive and adaptive. Ms. Bryant believes that the School Board should have multiple pathways of communication and Ms. Bryant is starting a monthly kitchen cabinet for engagement which will allow us to remain connected and communicating.
The Amendment passes 3-2, with Ms. Turner and Ms. Tapia-Hadley voting against.
Ms. Bryant wants to make sure that we include the volunteers that have been working closely with the subcommittees and helping APS improve because she doesn’t want to unintentionally sideline these people. She noted that speakers emphasized other possible subcommittees, like advanced academics and talent development, and we need to include those as well.
Ms. Turner agrees with Ms. Bryant and appreciates all the time and support from volunteers. She thinks there is room for community volunteers to provide input and she values it.
Ms. Clark is also thankful that the English Language Learner Council is moving forward, and she hopes that the existing volunteers help move this new format forward. She thinks the Policy is an important step forward because of the silos and lack of cohesion that existed before. She thinks the Board can name subcommittees for the fall without being specific in policy.
The Policy unanimously passes 5-0.
Action Item #2 – School Board’s Proposed FY 2027 Budget
Chair Zecher Sutton introduced the budget which she noted was unchanged from Superintendent’s proposed budget. She noted there are still some unmet needs that may be discussed in the future. The Board Members thanked staff and then passed the proposed budget with a vote 5-0. The final budget will be acted on at the May 4 meeting.
Information/Action Item – Proposed Revisions to the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar
APS staffer Mr. Dotson presented the proposed revision to this year’s school calendar because of the special election in Virginia in response to the statewide constitutional amendment. They are proposing an adjustment to the 2025–2026 School Calendar to reassign a Professional Learning Day in response to the statewide Constitutional Amendment special election scheduled for April 21, 2026
25 schools will be voting locations and they want to make sure that the facilities are fully prepared for our voters and that students are kept safe.
Ms. Clark noted that she strongly supports professional learning for special education. She asked how APS is supporting parents with this very short turnaround in school closure.
Ms. Tapia-Hadley asked if there are any legitimate threats or if the closure is proactive, and staff responded that it was proactive.
Ms. Turner asked what specific information APS was using to make the decision that it was not safe to hold elections while the schools are open. Staff responded that they are communicating with the County staff and Board of Elections.
Ms. Turner asked if any alternative approaches were considered, and staff responded that there wasn’t sufficient time to do site reviews of every location.
Ms. Turner then asked for clarification on how close to the state’s minimum for instructional time APS is, to which Dr. Durán responded that it is 27 hours.
Ms. BBryant asked about extended day at schools that aren’t hosting voting, to which staff responded they could inquire but it would be very challenging.
Ms. Zecher Sutton asked about switching Monday April 13 with the proposed Tuesday April 21 day off, and staff noted that grades need to be completed before then.
Ms. Clark asked about the impact across the district on activities that can’t be rescheduled, like field trips and games. Ms. Graves noted that other districts are closing too.
Ms. Turner concluded her questions with an emphasis on the importance of balancing the system needs, including for student learning, and concluded that the calendar policy is not sustainable. She noted that APS routinely must rework the calendar, including multiple times this year, which demonstrates the unsustanibilty. APS routinely fails to meet its own benchmark of 180 days. Ms. Turner emphasized that APS is supposed to prioritize student outcomes and student mental health, and stability and structure and the value of a school day is important to mental health. Therefore, APS needs to revisit the calendar approach because 180 days constantly comes behind almost every other priority. When we look at our values and our decision making, we need to keep our kids learning and keep our kids in school and learning.
Ms. Tapia-Hadley noted that she works in the immigration space and takes safety very seriously, but some immigrants who aren’t citizens don’t get to vote and they need their children in school learning and with childcare, access to education. She emphasized that APS’s purpose isn’t to run elections, it’s to make sure schools are open and provide a high quality and welcoming education for students K-12.
Ms. Zecher Sutton closed with saying that she cares about student outcomes, but she cares more about student safety.
Ms. Clark motions to adopt the revisions to the Calendar, Ms. Bryant seconds it. Bryant, Clark, and Zecher Sutton voted for, and Tapia-Hadley and Turner voted against. The removal of April 21 as a student learning day passes 3-2.
Information Item - Second Amendment to License Agreement at the Quincy Site
On July 1, 2018, APS entered into a license agreement with Arlington County Government (ACG) for up to 48 parking spaces at the Quincy Site (formerly known as the Buck Property). This Amendment allows for additional one-year extensions of the license agreement.
This item will be acted on at the April 16, 2026 meeting.
Meeting adjourns.
