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Dear Lee District Families,
As you know and as Dr. Brabrand stated in his letter yesterday, our first week of Distance Learning did not go smoothly as hoped. I realize how frustrated many of you may feel. I want to also personally apologize for the inconvenience and disruption that this issue may have caused.
Blackboard is currently performing system maintenance and updates to ensure stability for FCPS Distance Learning. Distance Learning will resume on Monday, April 20. Thank you for your patience and understanding this week.
I want to especially thank all the Lee District teachers who are making every effort to stay connected with their students during this difficult time.
I wish you and your family continued strength, hope and good health.
Tammy
Upcoming School Board Meetings Next Week
Monday, April 20 at 11:00 am
Special Electronic Work Session
Thursday, April 23 at 10:00 am
Special Electronic Regular Meeting
For agenda, handouts and virtual meeting access, click here.
Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually via at https://www.fcps.edu/tv/ch99.
NOVA Jump Start - New Opportunity for Current and Rising Seniors
Yesterday, NOVA announced the launch of JumpStart , a new opportunity for current and rising seniors to NOVA to take up to two, tuition-free online college courses this summer.
NOVA has identified a specific set of courses available through this initiative, including courses for NOVA degree requirements that are also highly transferable credits to four-year institutions as well as coursework in cloud computing through a collaboration with Amazon Web Services.
We are excited to partner with NOVA on this opportunity and will market this opportunity to our students and families as additional details about qualifications and registration emerge.
Letter to Special Education Families
Teresa Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, Department of Special Services, and her team have been working hard to ensure families have support for students receiving special education services.
I wanted to share the letter that was sent to special education families yesterday. The letter includes information about the Distance Learning Plan for Special Education as well as Temporary Learning Plans (TLPs) for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Superintendent's FY 21 Revised Budget Recommendations to School Board
On February 6, 2020, the School Board adopted the FY21 Advertised Budget. Due to the changing economic conditions resulting from the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), it is necessary to revise the FY21 Advertised Budget.
On April 7, 2020, the County Executive submitted an add-on package to the Board of Supervisors with a revised budget proposal.
On Monday, April 13, 2020, Governor Northam released his amendments to the 2020-2022 biennial budget. The Governor’s amendments are largely in response to the changing state general fund revenue conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic since the budgets were adopted by the General Assembly in mid-March. The Governor’s amendments will be considered by the General Assembly at the Reconvened Session on April 22, 2020, where it will vote to accept or reject the budget actions recommended by the Governor. Upon completion of the work by the General Assembly, the budget will be returned to the Governor for his signature and any final veto actions.
Due to the economic impact on state and local budgets resulting from the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), it is necessary to revise the FY21 Advertised Budget. Recommended revenue revisions will include the revised County transfer, state revenue impact, and recommended expenditure revisions.
Click here for the latest budget update from the April 16 School Board Meeting.
Following is the updated budget timeline:
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April 20
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School Board conducts budget work session
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April 23
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School Board considers FY 2021 Revised Budget
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TBD
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Presentation - FY 2021 Approved Budget
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TBD
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School Board holds public hearings on budget
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TBD
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School Board holds public hearings on budget (if needed)
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TBD
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School Board conducts budget work session
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TBD
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School Board adopts FCPS FY 2021 Approved Budget
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Upcoming Events to Support Mental Health and Wellness
As we continue to adjust to the new realities of family life during the COVID-19 outbreak, we wanted to share some upcoming free online events that can help provide additional information to support mental health and wellness.
For Parents and Other Adults:
- The George Mason University Center for Psychological Services is hosting a workshop series on Mental Health and Wellness During COVID-19 on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm. Join them here...password CPSworkshop.
- Resilience and Maintaining a Positive Mood, Monday, April 20 at 6:00 pm
- Mindfulness, Monday, April 27 at 6:00 pm
For Teens:
- Our Minds Matter, a program of the Josh Anderson Foundation, hosts a weekly meeting for teens to connect with peers and participate in activities focused on self-care and resources. The Virtual Wellness Wednesdays occur every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Click here to join the meeting.
For Teens, Young Adults, and Parents:
Click here for more mental health information and additional resources.
Congressional Art Competition Goes Digital!
 I am pleased to share that the Congressional Art Competition of 2020 is still on!
We invite our students (Grades 9-12) to submit their works of art virtually to our office! Students are invited to submit one overall digital image of their artwork, along with two optional “detail images” that highlight a specific detail or different angle of the piece allowing for a more intricate view of the work. Images should be submitted by email to: Beyer.district.office@mail.house.gov by FRIDAY MAY 29
Important Changes Summary
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School submission requirements: Up to 8 submissions per school
Family Resource Update
Food Services
Fairfax County Public Schools continues to help distribute meals throughout the county. As of April 16, 2020, over 403,000 meals have been served.
Visit: visit: https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-food-resources for more information. Or, you can use the Fairfax County interactive map to find community meal distribution sites, food pantries, and other related services.
Technology
As of April 15, FCPS has distributed 14,716 laptops and over 700 MiFi devices to ensure students have access to technology and reliable internet. If your student is in need of a laptop, please check with your student's school.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© 2020 Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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