Summary of June 12, 2025 School Board Meeting
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Meeting Open:
Chair Kadera opened the meeting. She announced a change to the agenda; the scheduled presentation of the Internal Audit Status Report was postponed to one of the School Board’s August meetings due to medical reasons. At that time, the results for Information Services will be presented as well as a recap of the year’s activities. (The Human Resources and Overtime audit results have already been posted; the payroll audit is delayed awaiting the completion of a software switch.)
The School Board congratulated the Class of 2025 and recognized APS students receiving National Scholastic awards, Latin honors, and Music honors as well as those participating in the Multicultural Student Achievement Network.
Consent Agenda Unanimously Adopted
The School Board approved new appointments in APS, including the principal of Washington-Liberty HS and the assistant principals of Abingdon ES and Gunston MS, who each spoke. The Board also approved revisions to School Board Policies D-10.2 Purchasing, D-12.3 Financial Management-Travel Reimbursement, E-3.31 Safety and Security, I-7.2.3.32 Addition or Deletion of Courses, I-10.32 Student Services, and I-11.6.30 Graduation, Promotion, and Retention.
Board Announcements:
June 17 – Closed Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
June 18 – Policy Subcommittee Meeting, 8:30 a.m., Board Conference Room
June 18 – Committee of the Whole Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
June 25 – Closed Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Board Conference Room
June 27 – Audit Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., Board Conference Room
July 8 – Closed Meeting, 9 a.m., Board Conference Room
July 8 – Organizational and School Board Meeting, 10:30 a.m., Board Room
Superintendent’s Announcements and Updates
Dr. Duran presented APS’s End-of-the-Year report.
Highlights from SY 2024-25 include:
Class of 2025 – 97.8% graduation rate
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57% of APS graduates awarded scholarships
84% completed of the Class of 2025 completed college-level coursework
Reading proficiency increased in PK-Gr2 as APS implemented the Science of Reading.
Challenges for next year include the need to strengthen Tier 1 instruction by implementing evidence-based teaching practice to meet the needs of all students. Dr. Duran reviewed way that APS is focused on meeting its new Strategic Plan priorities.
Tapia-Hadley asked if APS got feedback from teachers on Science of Reading training. APS said they will provide that information. She also noted that APS spoke about its goal to improve students’ self-efficacy and asked APS to define what that is. APS said this means that students develop skills that let them believe they can achieve their goals. Tapia-Hadley asked if this was tied to executive functioning. APS said that it could be. Tapia-Hadley also asked for more information about paid apprenticeships. APS said those are within APS’s work-based learning and CTE programs.
Turner noted that special education staffing is always a challenge and that we are hearing about that issue this year. Dr. Duran said they are doing several things in that area. First, APS expanded the opportunity for instructional assistants to become teachers by providing compensation. Second, APS is working with universities to help those without a bachelor’s degree move forward to becoming a teacher. Thirdly, APS has formed a working group to explore what incentives might be helpful in attracting special education staff.
Kadera asked how much of APS professional learning on Science of Reading is APS-specific and how much is determined by the state. Dr. Duran said there are two parts. There was extensive training for teachers that was required by the state. Then, there was also the training that the ELA Office provided to support APS efforts, including secondary literacy and the implementation of the programs that APS has adopted. Kadera asked if the state will require another round of extensive training next year. Dr. Duran said that currently, there are no new requirements for elementary school but they have not yet heard about middle school.
Public Comment
Kadera said that summer School Board meetings will include 30 minutes of public comment. For
this Board meeting, Kadera said that some speakers in public comment may be intending to talk
about a personnel matter. She advised them to speak in general terms and to not discuss
individuals.
A speaker expressed concerns over APS’s Sun Tribe Solar contract and its links to Israel.
An Arlington resident provided more context on Sun Tribe’s connection to Energix and Israel.
The President of the Arlington Heights Civic Association and APS parent spoke about the Grace Hopper Center and the 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan.
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A W-L teacher and parent spoke about overall teacher concerns and asked if APS senior staff regularly override the views of hiring committees and hire who they want. He expressed hope that things would work out for W-L.
A representative of the Arlington Gender Identity Alliance voiced concerns about state policies for non-binary students.
A W-L teacher expressed concerns about the hostile work environment at W-L and a lack of protection against retaliation.
An Abingdon APS parent voiced concerns that Abingdon is losing its Title 1 status.
A W-L English teacher and Arlington resident said that APS doesn’t listen to staff views. She expressed frustration that APS ignored W-L staff support for the acting W-L principal.
A W-L teacher expressed frustration with the selection process for the W-L principal and lack of consideration given to teachers’ views on the matter.
A W-L teacher and APS parent is concerned about the lack of equity in transportation; APS should pay for transportation for students to attend APS schools outside of their boundary.
A W-L teacher faulted APS for the low level of teacher satisfaction as reflected in Your Voice Matters statistics and for APS’s selection process for the W-L principal.
Monitoring Item – FY 2025 Q3 Fiscal Monitoring Report
FY 2025 3rd Quarter Budget Review
SY2025 net revenues are coming in $4.7 million higher than assumed in the budget, largely due to increased state funding.
SY2025 expenditures are coming in $10.8 million under what was assumed in the budget, largely due to non-contingency salaries ($14.0 million for salary lapse and turnover) and fringe benefits ($5.2 million).
Therefore, there are $15.5 million more net funds available relative to last forecast; $3.5 million will be used as carryover for the FY 2026 budget, leaving $12.0 million projected funds available at closeout.
At this time, APS is not recommending reallocating these funds so as to replenish reserves for compensation and future budgets.
The next update will be the Final Fiscal Status Report for FY 2025 in December 2025 when APS will provide its recommendations for allocation of available funds. Any available salary savings will be allocated to the Compensation Reserve.
FY2025 3rd Quarter CIP Report
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Minor Construction/Major Maintenance (MC/MM): Through March 2025, 100 projects were identified and 59 have been completed. The remaining projects are expected to be started or completed within the next six months.
APS provided an overview of FY2025 Capital Construction. APS outlined completed projects and noted that $1.8 million in unused funds was returned to the Capital Reserve and $0.8 million to the infrastructure account.
Reserves at 3 rd Quarter – MC/MM Reserve $0.6 million, Capital Reserve $24.8 million, Major Construction Reserve $0.3 million.
Zecher Sutton asked how the lower expenditures in salary lapse and turnover are calculated.
APS said they will have a clearer idea of salary lapse and turnover totals when they present the final report in December. Zecher Sutton asked Dr. Duran for a comparison with Q3 expenditures last year. Dr. Duran agreed.
Tapia-Hadley referenced public comment on the Compensation Fund and asked if that number was accurate. APS said that a public speaker did not account for all the things that have to come out of that amount.
Kadera said that whatever is ultimately left in salary lapse and turnover is usually turned over to the Compensation Reserve Fund. Dr. Duran agreed and said that that has been the practice during his tenure and before. Kadera said that the Board will get the final number for salary lapse and turnover once APS has accounted for things like separation pay and the need for substitutes for vacant positions; that final number will go to the Compensation Reserve. Dr. Duran agreed.
Clarke clarified that this is just accounting – if a teacher is not present, there is savings in salary lapse & turnover, but there will also be costs for substitute teachers. APS agreed. Clarke also asked how much the state provided for APS bonuses. APS said the state provided $3 million, which is the state’s share of APS’s SOQ funded positions, which is not all of APS’s teaching positions. In order to treat all APS staff the same, the School Board decided to pay bonuses to those staff who are not in SOQ funded positions as well. Bonuses totaled $6.2 million. Clarke asked how many staff are in SOQ funded positions. APS said they would provide that information. Clarke said that the state funding formulas do not provide adequate compensation for APS staff. Dr. Duran said APS also maintained the $1,000 or $500 intention so it was a two-step process – APS maintained the intent and provided it to all staff. Kadera said that APS has received feedback on this decision and process and encourages APS to consider this next year if APS is in a similar position again.
Zecher Sutton gave kudos to APS for coming in under-budget on MC/MM projects.
Information Items (2)
(1) Change Order for Additional Unforeseen Site Conditions - New Arlington Career Center (Grace Hopper Center)
The current Arlington Career Center and MPSA campus was previously occupied by Thomas Jefferson Jr. High School (TJJHS). Initial site assessment did not reveal the full extent of subsurface conditions and obstructions from demolition of TJJHS. There was a Previous Change Order for a portion of these unforeseen conditions approved at the March 13th School Board meeting. This Proposed Change Order is for the balance of unforeseen conditions encountered during construction of the building pad for the new Arlington Career Center building. School Board approval is required for individual change orders greater than $100,000. APS said the project is on schedule and things are moving quickly.
APS staff recommended allocating the $1.2 million needed to address this unforeseen need from the construction contingency; no additional funding is necessary.
Turner asked if there was a breakdown of the new change order costs. APS said they can provide that. Kadera later seconded this request.
Clarke said she had seen the news story and asked when the former TJJHS was demolished. APS said it was in the 1970s. Clarke noted that that was a long time ago which makes it easier to understand why no records were available. APS said they did as much research as they could but no documents were available about these subsurface conditions.
Tapia-Hadley asked how APS is handling waste disposal in the current construction. APS said hazardous materials have to be removed and handled separately. Other materials will be recycled into the construction process as feasible. APS said that they will not be simply burying material as was done in the 1970s at this site.
Kadera said the School Board will act at its July 8 meeting on this recommendation.
(2) Revisions to School Board Policy J-5.3.30 Admissions
Some of the Policy changes include i) Require court documents to establish custody by another person besides the parents; ii) Add section about Arlington Community High School; iii) Move list of specific documents to show proof of residency to the PIP; and iv) Note that staff may visit residences for verification in some cases.
Board will act on this at its July 8 meeting.
New Business
As part of APS’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, changes were made with regards to parental leave and salary scale increase which were already included in May’s budget. The School Board voted unanimously to certify these changes in APS’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Meeting ended.
