Michelle Reid, superintendent
Criteria
Priority criteria for boundary changes that “shall be used” are access to programming, enrollment/capacity, proximity, and transportation. Additional criteria that “may be used” are school pyramids, minimizing disruption, supporting family involvement, reducing temporary space use, promoting stability, and minimizing costs.
The Fairfax County School Board is conducting a comprehensive review to consider updates to its Policy 8130 on boundary adjustments. It seeks a clear roadmap for any potential changes to the attendance zone boundary (AZB) to balance the district's projected enrollment of 181,701 for FY25, compared to 179,952 for FY24. The board initiated this review due to severe overcrowding at several schools, insufficient bond funding to address capacity demands, reliance on over 750 trailers, planned growth in specific county areas, and increased demand for additional preschool classrooms. The school board last revised the policy on October 19, 2015.
The Fairfax County School Board held a work session on June 20 with its Facilities Planning Advisory Committee (FPAC), pronounced "F-pack." FPAC's 2023–2024 Annual Report outlined parameters and methods for responding with recommendations to its boundaries and processes.
FPAC proposed a four-step process. 1) Use capacity as the primary benchmark for the initiation of a boundary study; 2) support the current implementation timeline by fall 2026 after notifying the public by January 2026 to allow families to plan for any necessary adjustments; 3) consider future county-wide facility strategic planning and capital investment timelines; and 4) adopt an open communications policy and outreach plan for future boundary studies.
Ilryong Moon, one of three school board representatives at large, asked staff if capacity should be the key benchmark when initiating a boundary study.
The staff person said, "Yes, that's our recommendation. … Every conversation I've been following for a decade seems to come down to capacity. We have high schools next to each other; one is severely overcrowded, and one is severely under. … We have schools that can't field academic teams because there isn't the capacity. You've got ten trailers here and none here."
Thirteen citizens serve on the Facilities Planning Advisory Council (FPAC), one from each Fairfax County magisterial district, one from the City of Fairfax, and three at-large members. FPAC’s school board liaison is Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District School Board member. Staff liaisons are Janice Szymanski, chief of facilities services and capital programs, and Jessica Gillis, executive director of capital improvements and planning.
FCPS says that the advisory council may look at a range of facilities-related issues, such as school program capacity, enrollment and projections, transportation and operating efficiencies related to facilities planning, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) prioritization, creative financing and construction strategies, the scope of renovations, school closures and new schools, and planning for student housing (building additions, modular relocations, and review of school boundaries). 6-18-24 - Policy 8130 - FINAL Governance Committee - UPDATED Title.pdf (170 KB)
On Tuesday afternoon, June 25, at the Connection’s press time, the Fairfax County School Board will hold its Forum and Work Session, during which, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., the board will discuss Policy 8130: Local School Boundaries, Program Assignments, and School Closings.
According to the Boundary Policy Review, June 25, 2024, available online via BoadDocs, the priority criteria for boundary changes that “shall be used” are access to programming, enrollment/capacity, proximity, and transportation. Additional criteria that “may be used” are school pyramids, minimizing disruption, supporting family involvement, reducing temporary space use, promoting stability, and minimizing costs.
Boundary Policy Review, June 25, 2024, is also called Final Draft Boundary Policy PowerPoint 6_25_24 Work Session.pdf (582 KB). It is one of two posted meeting materials. The other is 6-18-24 - Policy 8130 - FINAL Governance Committee - UPDATED Title.pdf (170 KB).
The board will only discuss the policy on Tuesday, as the Governance Committee must finalize it after the board discussion. After public notice and finalization of the draft, the full school board will cast its vote. Once the school board adopts the policy, the superintendent implements it with community engagement before making boundary adjustments.
The 18-page Boundary Policy Review states that a better, current policy would help address community concerns about temporary classrooms (trailers), instructional program locations, overcrowding, facility renovation timelines, and transportation.
According to Boundary Policy Review:
* The impact summary of the proposed policy changes, Draft Policy 8130, states it benefits the community by assigning implementation to the division superintendent. It requires full school board approval of any adjustments except temporary emergencies, prioritizes proximity, provides a 5-year cyclical review, and strengthens public input and engagement.
* It compares the current and draft policies. In the current policy, "The superintendent is responsible for implementing the policies. The new policy makes this explicit.
* In a side-by-side view of the overarching goal of the assignment of students, the current policy states, “The basic policy of the Fairfax County School Board shall be to assign pupils to the schools and programs that serve the areas of their residences in accordance with the local school boundaries and service areas established by the School Board.”
* The new draft states that the goal is “to maintain or improve operational excellence and efficiency to sustain a world-class education system. ... FCPS is committed to providing facilities across the division that are equitably equipped and funded to provide safe and accessible school settings.”
* In a side-by-side comparison of adjustment types, the current policy is that the superintendent may recommend, after public meetings in affected communities and consultation with affected school board representatives in an emergency, that less than 15 percent of students are affected; a board vote is required, but public comment/hearing is not required.
* In the new draft, during off-cycle adjustments, when the need is “expedited,” the superintendent is authorized to act after public meetings and requires a board vote.
* The current policy highlights the criteria for boundary changes, which include factors such as proximity to residences, projected school enrollment and capacity, walking and busing safety, natural and man-made geographic features, neighborhood impact, school feeder alignments, contiguous school attendance areas, long-range capital plans, the socioeconomic characteristics of school populations, the distribution of programs and resources, and adjustments made without regard to magisterial districts or postal addresses.
* The proposed criteria for boundary changes prioritize access to programming, enrollment/capacity, proximity, and transportation. Additional criteria may be used, including school pyramids, minimizing disruption, supporting family involvement, reducing the use of temporary space, promoting stability, and minimizing costs.
For more detailed information, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/D6FSRL73F2DF/$file/Final%. 20Draft%20Boundary% 20Policy%20PowerPoint%206_25_24%20Work%20Session.pdf.