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Parents, teachers press Fairfax County School Board for calendar fixes and device opt‑outs during public comment
Summary
More than a dozen community members urged the board to reduce fractured school weeks, provide opt‑outs for one‑to‑one devices, and address inequities for low‑income families during a lengthy public comment period.
During community participation on April 9, parents, teachers and students spoke to the school board about the school calendar, device policies and extracurricular equity. Speakers included parents from Wolf Trap Elementary, FCPS classroom teachers, the president of the teachers’ union and student representatives. The comments emphasized childcare burdens created by frequent early‑release days, requests for opt‑out options for issued devices, and funding gaps for activities like school rowing teams.
Notable speakers included: - Anthony Lampkin, who raised calendar frustrations for parents; - Julie Curl, a teacher and advocate who requested an opt‑out for device issuance for families and highlighted classroom management burdens; - Emily Van Der Hoff, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, who emphasized the need to preserve staff planning time even as families seek greater calendar consistency.
The board did not take immediate policy action on device opt‑outs during the meeting but later amended calendar policy in response to constituent concerns (see related coverage on calendar votes). The board and staff were asked to present engagement plans and policy implications for any calendar changes.
Ending note: Several public commenters asked for a restored calendar committee and stronger, transparent community engagement before next year’s calendars are finalized.
