🎙️ PTA Meeting | Oct 27 @ CES

Please join us for our second PTA meeting of the year on Monday, October 27th at 6:00pm.  The October meeting will be in-person. 

Agenda

• Call to Order 

• Approval of prior Meeting Minutes (please review meeting minutes prior to meeting)

• Quick Reminders

• Principal's Updates

• Officer / Committee Updates (Aug Treasurer's Report | Sep Treasurer's Report)

• Upcoming & Past Events

• Call for Volunteers (Holiday Market | Bingo Night)

• Family Vision Group

• Open Forum / Discussion

  
  

Pizza will be provided.  Childcare will be provided for those who RSVPd.

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Family Vision Group

What is the Family Vision Group (FVG)?

The Family Vision Group consists of a school-based representation of FCPS caregivers, bridging communication and perspective with the superintendent’s office. Two caregivers from each school in FCPS attend these meetings to hear superintendent updates, communicate central office plans, and share feedback from their school’s community.  The representatives from CES are Katie Hocker and Alexandria Grant-Presser.

At the PTA meeting, we will share updates from the last Family Vision Group and hear remarks from our community to bring forward at the next FVG meeting.  Please keep feedback about the district level, rather than individual students.

We will do our best to share all feedback through FVG in-person meetings, remark cards, and FVG follow-up emails. The timeline for hearing back on specific feedback is variable.

October FVG Meeting Updates

School [Physical] Security

• Open Gate metal detectors: Introduction and demonstration of Open Gate metal detectors (electromagnetic technology, used in HS and now middle schools). Effectiveness: Designed to detect high-density metal threats, not common items; can trigger "nuisance alarms" for items like laptops and binders.  Not foolproof but represents a major investment in overt security.

• Emergency Response Devices (Raptor System): Pilot of Raptor system: "Emergency Response Buttons" (ERB), differentiated from "panic buttons" to avoid panic connotation. Devices (button, Bluetooth puck, speaker) installed campus-wide, located where students can't tamper; can triangulate location for responders. Goal: Give all 41,000+ FCPS staff an alert button; focused initial rollout in elementary schools due to fewer existing security features. Budget/maintenance costs (including batteries, etc.) considered and funded through grants/one-time dollars, within security's existing budget.

Maintenance & Renovation

• FCPS has moved to a 42-year school renovation cycle. Ranking of renovation is based on the county’s ranking of school priority. Infrastructure constraints (e.g., septic systems/well water at some sites) can delay or limit renovation/expansion. Facilities will be at the next meeting to further discuss building conditions and renovations.

Budget

• The Budget isn’t getting better any time soon. Parents are encouraged to engage with PTAs and advocacy groups to emphasize the importance of school funding. 

• Math textbooks rolling out next year

Future Ready Index

• To create a transparent, research-based, annually updated index to track how well FCPS prepares students for the future beyond traditional test scores. Responds to confusing or misleading public rating systems (often test-only focused) and shifting state standards.

• Context: State Board of Education is raising test score cut-offs ("cut scores") and reducing time before English Learner scores count towards accreditation (from 5.5 years to 1.5 years). FCPS outperforming statewide metrics: 7 of the Top 10 VA high schools, 18/30 top elementary schools, 262 National Merit semifinalists—up 40% (neighboring division had 6). Concern: Imminent changes will make otherwise “accredited” FCPS schools appear to be “failing” overnight.

• Domains Measured: (1) Academic Excellence (2) Safety and Belonging (3) Future Ready Experiences (e.g., CTE, work-based learning) (4) Workforce Investment (quality/retention/support of educators) (5) Community Investment (partnerships, financial support)

FCPS App

• Available to download, and will serve as a future FCPS communication system 

TO SHARE DISTRICT-BASED FEEDBACK, QUESTIONS, OR THOUGHTS TO BE BROUGHT UP AT THE NEXT FAMILY VISION GROUP, YOU CAN:

1) SHARE IN PERSON AT THE PTA MEETING TONIGHT.

2) SHARE VIA EMAIL AT PELECT@CENTREVILLEPTA.ORG.

3) SUBMIT YOUR THOUGHTS VIA THE FVG DROPBOX IN THE MAIN OFFICE.