CPDC approves revised FPAC charter, debates timing of May 6 work sessions and FPAC analysis

The Fairfax County School Board Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee unanimously approved a revised charter for the Facilities Planning Advisory Council and discussed scheduling for two heavy work sessions set for May 6, including whether FPAC should complete a requested cost–benefit analysis before the second session.

The committee’s vote to forward the revised FPAC charter to the full school board followed a presentation by Kathy Hozick of FPAC. Hozick said FPAC had taken a formal vote to approve the revisions, added minor edits (including page numbers) and had circulated multiple drafts for months. "We approved it unanimously," she said.

CPDC members spent the bulk of the discussion on whether FPAC could produce an analysis of a public–private partnership cost–benefit study before the board’s scheduled May 6 work sessions. The committee originally requested two separate work sessions: one on design-build and construction management–at-risk methods, commercial office conversions and optimizing FCPS assets; the second on public–private partnerships and swing spaces.

The committee heard from Katie Herman, chair of FPAC, who told the CPDC chair in a separate conversation that FPAC would "probably not" have the analysis ready in time for May 6. Committee members weighed two options: proceed with both sessions on May 6 without the FPAC memo, or delay the second session until FPAC completes its analysis, which could push that session to the fall and depend on the new committee leadership elected in June.

Dr. Anderson, a CPDC member, said the May 6 sessions should proceed even if FPAC’s analysis is not yet finished: "These are very, heavy and technical topics, I think it will be great to have more than one bite at the apple," Dr. Anderson said, urging the committee to begin building understanding that could be informed later by FPAC’s work. Several other members echoed the view that holding the May 6 session would allow FPAC to supplement the record afterward.

Committee members also noted the May 6 agenda already contains additional topics and cautioned that attempting to cover too much in one day could dilute attention on complex items. After discussion, CPDC left the schedule as proposed rather than taking formal action to delay the second session; members said that maintaining the date does not preclude FPAC submitting its analysis when ready.

The committee’s vote to forward the revised FPAC charter to the full board was recorded as unanimous. Hozick said FPAC expects to compile memos and an annual report from its work and that the charter language was revised to allow FPAC to receive topics from the school board on a rolling basis rather than limiting the council to an annual charge.

FPAC members present described the revised charter as clarifying FPAC’s role, formalizing meeting procedures (motions and formal votes), and enabling timelier memos. Katie Herman was not present for CPDC’s meeting but was cited several times as FPAC chair.

The CPDC also reviewed FPAC’s planned memos and ongoing work: procurement considerations, reducing renovation costs, efficient permitting strategies, and the public–private partnership/procurement review. Committee members asked that FPAC continue to target timely memos that the board can use in work sessions and suggested CPDC and FPAC coordinate scheduling so new committee membership changes do not impede review.

The committee moved on to other agenda items after agreeing to maintain the May 6 schedule and forward the revised FPAC charter to the full school board.