Karen Keys-Gamarra - Student Town Hall - October 2 @ 6:00 PM


Karen Keys-Gamarra's Newsletter

We have officially begun our 2020-21 school year and it has been a pleasure to see everyone at Back to School Nights and other events.  We have been working through the summer to make sure that we have a safe successful school year.  We have also worked with experts to make sure that our technical services are top notch and reviewed our processes in a transparent manner.  A report evaluating recommendations on how we can best improve our technical services and move forward will be released shortly.  My colleagues and I have been working hard to serve you, our constituents.  Toward that end, please find a few updates below.


Student Town Hall Meeting

Friday, October 2, 2020 @ 6:00 PM

Please use the guest link below to join us:

https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/42346f3a131f414e8fb5fc4c1f79b148

This Friday, I will welcome students, including our former School Board Representative, Niharika Vattikonda, a former TJ student and others to discuss the start of the school year.  I hope you can join us.

This virtual meeting is designed to provide an opportunity to hear the perspective of our current and former FCPS students as we navigate the COVID 19 pandemic, distance learning, and a renewed focus on equity.

All are welcome to attend and no sign up is required.


Return to School

The Board has had work sessions to discuss the Return to School Plan.  Last August, Board members supported a Return to School Follow On Motion directing the Superintendent to provide a plan for returning to in person learning with dates and metrics.  The Superintendent presented a partial plan this past week detailing a process to allow some of our most vulnerable students to begin in person learning in small cohorts.  The Superintendent’s proposal can be found HERE.  I supported this initial plan but also advocated for more details, as well as a request to include some of our primary grades K-2 in cohorts as soon as possible.  I also advocated for a report from the superintendent regarding available staff and ways to accommodate staff members who feel they may experience a health or safety issue when we return to in person learning.  I understand that this is a delicate balance and I value both the importance of education and the need to protect both students and staff members.  Of course, all plans will be contingent on the status of COVID spread and the ability to meet safely.  As a Board member, I want to make sure that parents, students and staff feel safe in our schools:  Every student has the right to learn in an appropriate and respectful environment. 


Child Abuse Reporting Procedures Policy

I always advocate for our system to take every precaution regarding interactions with our students in FCPS.  That’s why I requested that the Child Abuse policy be revised in July 2019.  As an Attorney who works to protect children in my professional life, and as a former member of the Governance committee on the School Board, I felt it was my duty to suggest revisions to our procedures.  The final more comprehensive policy was approved on September 3, 2020.  A copy of the new policy can be found Here.


Thomas Jefferson Admissions

2020 has been a school year like no other.  The pandemic presents unique challenges for the system when attempting to implement the admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School.  I also had the opportunity to participate in the Governor’s Task Force to review admission practices for Governor’s Schools in Virginia.  Additionally, I have received numerous letters from constituents and have participated in community forums to hear community concerns.  It is my position that we can maintain the high academic standards of this school and increase opportunity for participation in STEM education for all our students and improve the overall TJ educational experience for all students. For this reason, I have advocated for the Superintendent to present a plan that provides data driven criteria for determining admissions criteria for this school year.  This may include the evaluation of the student’s GPA, student interviews, aptitude questionnaires and the like.  I fully expect that the Superintendent’s current plan will be supplemented with greater detail in the coming months. I look forward to reviewing the superintendent’s proposal that will assist FCPS in identifying intellectually curious students who will participate in this exceptional learning opportunity.


John R. Lewis High School

It is my pleasure to announce that the former Lee High School has been renamed as the John R. Lewis High School and it was my pleasure to 2nd the motion for this purpose.  My comments for this occasion can be found below.  This momentous occasion also allowed me to describe my hope to establish the John R. Lewis High School Academy to the Superintendent and my colleagues.  I am currently working with my School Board colleagues, FCPS staff members, students at the high school and members of the surrounding community to determine whether this proposal can become a reality.  It is my hope that this Academy will provide Lewis High School students, as well as students from surrounding High Schools, the opportunity to engage in a rich academic environment that allows students to focus on Leadership, Public policy, Government and Human Rights.  I believe this is an idea that will enhance the learning environment of Lewis High School and provide a bridge to opportunities in local community service, local government, public service organizations as well as joint learning initiatives with leaders from Federal representatives in both Virginia and Washington D.C.


Audit Updates

As the current Audit committee chair, please find updates below:

  • The first Audit Committee meeting of FY 2021 was held on September 23.  A recording of the meeting can be accessed here.
  • At the September 23, 2020 Audit Committee meeting, OAG presented the results of the Construction Contract Management audit.  As a result of this audit, OAG noted eight findings and 16 recommendations.  The full report can be viewed here.
  • Stay up to date with OAG’s work by subscribing to Audit Buzz (through News You Choose).  The latest issue of Audit Buzz (September 2020), which includes up to date OAG information, is available here.
  • We presented the Audit Recommendations Follow-up Status at the Audit Committee.  Updates can be found Here.

My Comments Regarding John R. Lewis HS

I am beyond honored to 2nd this motion to rename Lee High School to John R. Lewis High School.  Even saying Lewis’s name, this kind and courageous giant, I find myself in a type of awe and deep respect.  I wasn’t able to participate in the civil rights movement but John Lewis was there for me and for my sons, for our sons and our daughters and all the sons and daughters who hoped that one day, the constitution of the United States would not just in words but in action, represent them. Lewis was there representing the hope that our constitution would represent all of those who followed him irrespective of race, religion, creed, sexual orientation or any other division this nation had once laid claim to.   John Lewis was there when African Americans didn’t have the right to opportunity, to ride a bus without suffering the indignities of Jim Crow and he looked at the various forms of injustice and he said that there was something deep inside of him saying he could no longer go along with an evil system.  And so time after time after time as a young person, he deliberately put himself in harm’s way to make a difference for others.  He was beaten and arrested repeatedly until change came.  But he didn’t stop there.  He took that fire in his belly and ran for congress 27 times where he continued to fight for each and every one who dared to come to this land in hopes that democracy would reveal her promise. 

                I have also admired the students of this high school and our community in their noble request that we honor inclusiveness in this renaming process.  They wanted the name of this school to bring this community together. Today, I believe we are honoring that request.  In all of my research, I could not find one negative word from either side of the political world that was written about John Lewis.  He is revered around the world.  He is a bridge builder and he stands for positive change no matter your creed.  He was a person who brought this nation together at the toughest of times and he did it at great cost.  He was then, much like our students today, one who stood with integrity for what is right and he never changed.  He was steadfast.  He stood up for all, for the marginalized and demanded human dignity. I can think of no greater way to correct the harm of a Confederate General’s name on our school, than to replace it with the name of hero who so valiantly fought for positive change.  In John’s day, African Americans who tried to register to vote could be asked to count the bubbles on a bar of soap or prove that they could read.  Today, the voting rights act has been gutted and states have raced to place restrictions on that right.  John was still fighting when he passed away and we must pick up the torch.

                And that’s why today as we appropriately name this school John R. Lewis High School, I am also asking that my colleagues and this community consider what we can do to not only place a name on this school but to turn this symbolic act into actions that will have greater impact for years to come.  I hope that my colleagues will indulge me as this thought came to full fruition just hours ago and I did not have the opportunity to call each of you.   I will be submitting a forum topic shortly to encourage this Board and our superintendent to explore ways to make this school a beacon that represents the kind of action that John represented.  It is my hope that we can make John R. Lewis High School a place where students can study government, public policy, leadership and human rights.  That we would use this opportunity to improve the trajectory of this school and offer classes that prepare these students to be knowledgeable in methods of change.

                A recent documentary quoted John Lewis as saying:  “You must be a headlight and not a tail light.  You must find a way to get in the way.”  This is a kind of “What would John do moment?”  I’m asking our Board to go a step further and to get in the way of the past educational limitations and to create even greater opportunity at this school.  Let’s build a beacon for change not only in this community, but in our state.  Today we acknowledge this great man and I hope that we can soon pledge to use this opportunity to build the kind of example that he has been for us.  Let’s get in the way.   


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.

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