Superintendent’s March 13, 2024 Update

Dear APS Families,

We announced the 2024 APS Employees of the Year last Friday including five division-wide honorees and our school-based Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year. We look forward to recognizing them at the annual Celebration of Excellence on May 21.

I also want to congratulate our Northern Virginia Regional Science and Engineering Fair (VSSEF) winners – Olivia Bartrum, Wakefield; Anna Mohanty, Washington-Liberty; and Declan Leighton, Yorktown. Olivia and Anna will represent APS at the state level in April.

Here are a few brief updates for this week:

• Updated Notification Procedures for Overdoses: In accordance with new guidance from the Virginia Dept. of Education, moving forward, APS will issue a division-wide notification if we receive medical confirmation that a student overdose has occurred on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event. Schools will continue to send an immediate, general medical emergency notice to their staff and families when emergency vehicles respond to the school. The system-wide notice will only be sent as a follow up if APS receives medical confirmation of an overdose.
• Your Voice Matters @ APS—Deadline Approaching: Please complete the Your Voice Matters survey by Fri, March 22, if you have not already done so. Look for the email titled “Arlington Public Schools Wants to Hear from You!” We are offering two Resource Fairs where families can receive in-person assistance to complete the survey. These events are also opportunities to learn more about ParentVUE, ParentSquare, and various APS services:
  • March 13: Hoffman-Boston Elementary School | 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  • March 18: Wakefield High School | 6-7:30 p.m.
  • If the link to complete the survey was not received, please contactengage@apsva.us or call and text 571-200-2770.
• FY 2025 Budget: The Public Hearing on our FY 2025 Budget is tomorrow, March 14. I encourage families to join APS in advocating to the State and County for more school funding as they finalize their budgets. Contact the Governor’s Office or sign up to speak at an upcoming County Budget Public Hearing at 7 p.m., on April 2 and April 4. You can also write the County Board.

As a reminder, Thu, March 14 is an Elementary Early Release and there is no school for elementary and middle school students on Fri, March 15, for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Friday is also an early release for High School students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent