Prince William County Public Schools

Select this link to view the agenda on the Electronic School Board webpage.

Select this link to view the School Board meeting on PWCS-TV.

Public Hearing: Citizens addressed the School Board on proposed boundary plans for the "Potomac Shores" Elementary School, Kilby Elementary School replacement, and affected elementary school attendance areas for the 2017‒18 school year.

The School Board Approved:

• The contract award to Amazon Services, LLC, for an online marketplace for purchase of products and services for the School Division. Total annual amount will exceed $250,000;
• February 8 as Crossing Guard Appreciation Day;
• The adjustment to the School Operating Fund due to new revenues from increase in grant programs where notification to the School Division was after the approval of the budget, and receipt of donations;
• The Memorandum of Understanding with the Virginia Board of Education, the Prince William County School Board, and Fred M. Lynn Middle School until Fred M. Lynn Middle School receives full accreditation;
• That staff provide a Development Impact Statement to Prince William County concerning the impact to the School Division of the proposed Mid-County Park & Estate Homes development of 108 residential units;
• The "Potomac Shores" Elementary School boundary plan 6 and that the boundaries for Occoquan Elementary School remain unchanged; keep the sections in Neabsco Elementary School that are being sent to Kyle Wilson Elementary and Montclair Elementary Schools to remain at Neabsco Elementary School; and the portion of Henderson Elementary School being sent to Montclair Elementary and Pattie Elementary Schools remain at Henderson Elementary School. Also, Barley Drive, Barley Court, Terry Court, Glenville Drive, and Nicely Court remain at Swans Creek Elementary School. That rising fifth graders can remain at their current school, if they provide their own transportation;
• The confirmation of the Board Poll dated January 3, request by two School Board members to held a Special Meeting on January 4; and
• The minutes from the January 4 School Board meeting and strike the improper Special Meeting, and associated votes, from the record in order to receive proper public input during the normal budget process.

Citizens' Comment Time:

Citizens addressed the School Board on the following topics:

• Graham Park Middle School business program;
• Physical education in elementary schools;
• LGBTQ;
• School boundaries; and
• Naming of the "Potomac Shores" Elementary School.

Presentation and Discussion on the following topics:

• The School Division's employee compensation study conducted by Segal Waters Consulting.
• Report from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Task Force.

Superintendent's Time:

Dr. Steven L. Walts, Superintendent of Schools, made the following announcements:

• Nearly 900 parents attended the fourth annual Parent Summit on January 7. Several of the sessions were videotaped. Check these out by following the link from the Parents tab on the School Division's home page. Thanks to School Board Member Loree Williams for being in attendance and supporting the Parent Summit. Congratulations to all those who organized the Parent Summit and all of the volunteers who came out to help. And many thanks to Hylton High School Television Production students who assisted in videotaping the presentations.
• The Martin Luther King Day Oratorical competition was held on January 16. Congratulations to the student winners and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on another memorable event. Occoquan School Board member and Vice Chairman Lillie Jessie was the founder and first chairperson of the Youth Oratorical Contest 27 years ago. Student recipients: "Best before the Audience" awards went to Abdullah Usufzai from Ronald Reagan Middle School, and Norman Jones from Stonewall Jackson High School; "Best before the judges" awards went to Norman Jones and Jennine Faruque, Stonewall Middle School; "The Judges Choice" awardees are Claire Lord, Marsteller Middle School, and Beverly Sackey, Brentsville District High School; first place in the fifth-grade essay contest went to Makenna Howell, Porter Traditional School. A special thanks and congratulations to the coordinators and coaches who encouraged these students.
• Woodbridge High School senior Fatima Dyfan was selected as one of three finalists for the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award. She will learn in the next few days if she was the winner for her Congressional District. Fatima is class president at Woodbridge and has held numerous leadership roles in school and in her community.
• Mountain View Elementary School was selected for a STEM Excellence Award. The award will be presented to Principal Adriane Harrison and Instructional Technology Coach Terry Guiffre next week at the Future of Education Technology Conference.
• Battlefield High School's orchestra and director of orchestras Zach Saunders was selected to perform on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on Thursday, March 2. The orchestra is one of four musical groups to perform from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Gar-Field High School recently held a ceremony honoring the 2016 graduates from the International Baccalaureate Programme. This program began at Gar-Field in 2001. Three hundred and six students took 924 exams, a significant number since most of these courses are two-year courses and limited to just 11th and 12th graders.
• January 23 to January 27 is Virginia School Principals Week. This is a time to honor and thank our principals who are among the greatest educational leaders in the Commonwealth. Each day our principals and assistant principals are responsible for the safety and education of almost 89,000 students. We applaud them for their leadership and dedication. It is a privilege to work with these exceptional leaders.
• Last year's Divisionwide survey showed that our teachers and teacher assistants had 92 percent overall satisfaction with the teaching, learning, and working environment provided by the School Division. Similarly, parents reported a high overall satisfaction level of 91 percent. This year's Divisionwide survey has been distributed to parents. Your feedback is very important to us. Please respond to the survey by January 27.
• An invitation goes out to our schools to recognize and celebrate the work of their School Board representative and Chairman, especially during the coming month of February, since it marks the annual observance of School Board Appreciation Month. Let them know you appreciate what they do for your students and faculty.

Volume 12, Number 10 - Publication Date: January 23, 2017