November 13, 2025 School Board Meeting

All Board Members Present: Chair: Bethany Zecher Sutton, Mary Kadera, Miranda Turner, Kathleen Clark, Zuraya Tapia-Hadley

I. REGULAR MEETING OPENING

• 7:00 p.m. – Meeting called to order by the Chair.

• Opening remarks:

• Acknowledgement of students participating in arts programming and activities connected to the meeting (based on transcript references).

• Spotlight / Student Engagement:

• Student presentations connected to theater and arts programs, including references to  Puffs  and discussion of acting and performance preparation.

• Students and/or staff described program experiences, rehearsal processes, and key learning moments.

• Recognition: Native American Heritage Month

II. CONSENT ITEMS

• Vote: Motion to approve the consent agenda — passes unanimously (5–0).

• New Hires Announced:

  • Brigid Gill is from Claremont.

  • Caroline Capoccia is from Yorktown.

  • Daniela Castaneda Lopez is from Hoffman-Boston.

  • Diane Reeser is from Tuckahoe.

  • Haftamu Abraha is from Transportation.

  • Joshua Delgado is from Yorktown.

  • Katarina Meinzinger is from Special Education.

  • Katherine Kada is from Nottingham.

  • Khamari Haughton is from Washington-Liberty.

  • Kristen Papademetriou is from Hamm.

  • Lance Jackson is from Wakefield.

  • Matthew Millner is from Finance.

  • Million Tilahun is from Transportation.

• Policy Updates:

• Announced approval of revisions to relevant School Board policies K-7, F-6, & M-5 

• Work Group Appointments:

• Educational Technology

• Melissa Hyatt - Co-Chair

• Early Childhood

• Ellen Vicens - Member

• Arlington Special Education Advisory Council (ASEAC)

• Sara Miner - Member

• Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, & Families (APCYF)

• Nadia Conyers

III. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Board Announcements

Zuraya Tapia-Hadley

• Highlighted the Stumblings Stone ceremony at Gunton Middle School on Nov. 24th, Drew monthly gardening days, ongoing Fleet and Glebe food drives.

Kathleen Clark

• Hosting a meeting with PTA heads for a learning session

Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates

Dr Duran provided the following updates:

1. Student Behavior & School Climate

• The Superintendent acknowledged ongoing issues with student behavior in schools.APS has been working intensively on this since the previous year.

• A key focus has been on establishing consistent expectations and ensuring every school community understands behavior standards.

• The goal is to create an environment that is both inclusive and positive for all students. Staff, families, and students have contributed to discussions on how to improve the overall school climate.

2. Cell Phone Restrictions Implementation

• The Superintendent reported that many APS schools have successfully implemented or expanded cell phone restrictions. These restrictions are part of a broader APS approach to improving behavior and helping students focus during the school day.

• Schools are still determining which methods (lockers, pouches, class-only use, etc.) work best for their environments. Some refinements will continue based on student and staff feedback.

3. Student Support Efforts

• The superintendent highlighted continuing work around student supports, including:Social-emotional learning initiatives, Mental health services and counseling access, Strategies aimed at reducing disciplinary incidents. These efforts relate to the broader system goals tied to absenteeism and behavior.

4. Community Engagement & Events

• The Superintendent reminded the community that several important events were happening throughout APS schools and encouraging families to participate and remain involved in school activities.

5. Gratitude for Staff and Community

• The Superintendent expressed appreciation for: 

• Teachers and support personnel working directly with students.

• Administrators helping enforce new behavior and cell phone expectations.

• Families collaborating with schools during the rollout of new policies.

6. Creating a Positive, Inclusive Community

• The Superintendent concluded with a focus on APS’s commitment to establishing a respectful, supportive environment and building a school system where every student can thrive academically and socially.

IV. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

19 students and 5 parent and teacher speakers raised concerns relating to the need to replace or update Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools

V. MONITORING ITEMS

A presentation was given by Dr. Julie A. Crawford, Chief of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Student Support on the Chronic Absenteeism Monitoring Report

1. Overall Progress & Current Landscape

• Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of the school year (excused + unexcused).

• APS made notable gains: schools under 15% absenteeism increased from 24 → 32.

• All demographic groups saw reductions in chronic absenteeism between 2023–24 and 2024–25.

• Significant demographic disparities remain, especially for Hispanic students, English learners, and students with disabilities.

• Majority of absences among chronically absent students are excused or mixed, not solely unexcused.

2. Interventions, Supports & Strategies

• Including universal messaging, targeted check-ins, and intensive community supports.

• Edu-Futuro partnership improved attendance for over 60% of referred students and connected families to essential resources.

• Flexible Instructional Time (FIT) reduced chronic absenteeism counts by converting instructional hours to attendance credit.

• Schools use attendance teams, tutoring, counseling, and home visits as layered supports.

• Culturally responsive teaching strengthens belonging and engagement, supporting attendance for diverse and neurodiverse learners.

3. Goals, Focus Areas & Next Steps

• By 2030, APS aims to reduce chronic absenteeism to 8% systemwide and curb disproportionate impact to ≤5% variance.

• 2025–26 will target schools with 12%+ absenteeism, with more intensive support for those above 15%.

• Continued expansion of Check & Connect, quarterly attendance summits, and data-driven monitoring.

• Strengthening cross-department coordination: Student Services liaisons, ARISE partnership with GMU, and centralized data tools.

• Sustaining momentum through positive recognition programs, community engagement, and multi-year system reinforcement.

Board Questions Included:

• Is there is a single main cause driving chronic absenteeism across APS?

• What is the one thing we could truly try to target as a community? 

• Is there universal programming that reinforces positive attendance? 

• Now that we’re approaching 12% absenteeism, what does that mean? 

• How are schools are actually implementing attendance improvement strategies, and which components are proving effective or ineffective.

• Have we ever gone down the path of looking at asynchronous learning or different modalities for attendance? 

• Are we actually on track to meet our goal within five years or before 2030? 

• Does it vary by school community—even between elementary and high school? 

• As board members, we govern at the system level — so what trends should we be paying attention to? 

VI. ACTION ITEMS

The Board reviewed and approved the proposed revisions to the 2025–26 school year calendar, which were presented to ensure better alignment with state instructional requirements, improve the balance between semesters, and refine the placement of professional learning days, teacher workdays, and early release days. Staff had previously explained that the changes were designed to create a clearer and more consistent calendar for families while responding to operational considerations such as grading periods, transportation planning, and teacher training needs. They emphasized that the revisions incorporated significant feedback from staff and the community and reflected the district’s goal of providing a calendar that is both instructionally sound and practically manageable.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the impacts of shifting professional learning days, alignment of quarter and semester boundaries, and how the revisions would affect families, teachers, and student learning time.  After discussion, the Board voted 4-1 to approve the changes with Miranda Turner being the sole “no” vote. 

VII. INFORMATION ITEMS

Steven Marku, Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs presented on three proposed policy changes to be considered at the December 18 meeting. 

Item 1: Start Times, Administrative Placements, Physical Interventions
The policy revision focused on clarifying and updating language used to consider changes, not time changes themselves. Updates to Administrative Placements strengthened guidance on when students may be reassigned for safety or support reasons. Revisions to Physical Interventions modernized definitions, reinforced safety expectations, and emphasized training and documentation requirements.

Information Item 2: Middle and High School Programs of Studies
The updated Programs of Studies introduced new and revised courses to expand student opportunities and maintain curriculum alignment with state standards. Staff highlighted changes that respond to student interest, evolving academic pathways, and instructional needs. Families will be provided with guidance to support course selection as the new offerings are implemented.

Information Item 3: 2025 Final Fiscal Close-Out & CIP Quarterly Report

The final remaining Close-Out is $40,274,432. Staff recommended how these remaining funds should be reallocated and reserved. The CIP Quarterly Report provides updates on the progress, spending, and timelines for major construction and renovation projects. Together, these reports help the Board evaluate financial health and make informed decisions about future capital and operational planning.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting concluded following the final information item.