Coraggio Consulting
City of Fairfax School Board Regular Meeting, Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Place: City Hall, City of Fairfax, Virginia
Length: 0h 17m (video)
Official meeting video (city, Granicus): https://fairfax.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=4628
Agenda: https://fairfax.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=4628
Minutes: https://fairfax.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=4628&doc_id=9b8ee366-9015-11f1-bb61-005056a89546

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-12. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:01] Good evening. There being a quorum of board members present, I call this meeting of the City of Fairfax School Board for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[00:00:30] Thank you. Section 22.1-72 of the Code of Virginia specifies that, at its annual organizational meeting in July, a school board shall elect one of its members as chair and one as vice chair and shall approve other appointments and designations of responsibility necessary for board operations during the year. So tonight in my role as chief executive officer of this school system, I have the pleasure and responsibility of presiding over the first part of this annual organizational meeting. You will see on your agenda the actions the board must take to approve organizational

[00:01:08] arrangements and make appointments for the coming year are the first order of business for this meeting. At this time, I will open the floor to nominations for chair of the City of Fairfax School Board. Superintendent Wright? Yes, Ms. Hickman? I nominate Carolyn Pitches as chair of the City of Fairfax School Board. Thank you, Ms. Hickman. Carolyn Pitches has been nominated by Amit Hickman. Are there any other nominations? Hearing no other nominations, the motion before

[00:01:44] the board is that Carolyn Pitches be elected chair of the City of Fairfax School Board of Fairfax, Virginia. All those in favor of the motion signify by raising your hand and saying aye aye those opposed the motion carries by a unanimous vote with all members present and voting i am pleased at this point to turn this meeting over to chair pitches who will manage the remainder of our evening thank you dr wright our next item is um is to call for a nomination for vice chair of the city of fairfax school board may i have a nomination please madam chair miss accessory

[00:02:23] i nominate amit hickman as vice chair of the city of fairfax school board are there any other nominations okay hearing no other nominations the motion before the board is that a meet Hickman be elected vice chair of the state of Fairfax school board all those in favor signify but raise your hand and say aye signify by saying aye those opposed none are opposed to the motion passes by a five to zero vote there are no changes in our agenda this evening and no other announcements our next item is the adoption of the agenda may have a motion

[00:03:03] please madam chair miss Kelsey I move that the city of Fairfax school board adopt the agenda as written and distributed may have a second second okay miss Kelsey moved miss Bartle may seconded all those in favor signify by saying aye aye none opposed motion passes the agenda motion passes unanimously okay next item is the annual school board organization miss Hickman please read this agenda item into the record. I move that the school board authorizes organizational

[00:03:41] arrangements and appointments as follows. One, designate the first Monday of each month as its regular meeting dates for October, November, and December of 2026, January, February, March, April, May, and June of 2027. The regular meeting for September 2026 will be held on the second Monday.

[00:04:01] The board will not meet in August. Work sessions will be held on the third Monday of each month for the 2026-2027 school year with the exception of September 2026, January, and February 2027. For the months of September 2026 and January and February 2027, the work session will be held on the fourth Monday. There is no work session in December and June. There is a joint FCPS school board session in December 2026. There is a joint City of Fairfax council session in March 2027.

[00:04:33] If during the year the regular meeting date or work session date falls on a holiday or other conflicts arise the respective meeting or work session will have to be rescheduled in those instances it shall be the responsibility of the division superintendent to inform the school board two set the salary of board members at 4,600 per annum and that of the chairman at chairwoman at 5,600 per annum three appoint barbara king clerk of the city of fairfax school board four retain stacy haney to provide general legal services five establish a rotation schedule for

[00:05:09] the superintendent and school board members to attend either physically or virtually the Fairfax County School Board regular monthly meetings. This schedule will start with the superintendent and follow with school board members in alphabetical order. The FCPS agenda will be sent to the scheduled board member before the scheduled meeting date. Appoint Carolyn Pitches as liaison to the Fairfax County School Board. Six, appoint Amit Hickman and alternate Carolyn Pitches to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Seven, appoint Sarah Kelsey as representative to the City of Fairfax Environmental Sustainability Committee. Eight, appoint Christina Sessori as the

[00:05:49] City School Board Delegate to the VSBA Convention and Amit Hickman as the Alternate Delegate. Nine, appoint Christina Sessori and Carolyn Pitches as the City of Fairfax School Board Legislative Liaisons. Ten, appoint Carolyn Pitches as the City of Fairfax School Board's Comprehensive Planning and Development Committee, CPDC. Eleven, appoint Sarah Knowles as the City of Fairfax Schools representative to the FCPS Advanced Academic Placement Advisory Committee. 12, appoint Mary K. Zunas as the City of Fairfax Schools representative to the FCPS Advisory Committee

[00:06:26] for Students with Disabilities. 13, appoint Melissa Schmuck as the City of Fairfax Schools representative to the FCPS Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. 14, appoint Heather Hakes as the City of Fairfax representative to the FCPS Educational Technology Review Committee.

[00:06:48] 15. Appoint Koshal Patibandla as the City of Fairfax representative to the FCPS Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee. 16. Continue the search for the City of Fairfax Schools representative to the FCPS Student Health Advisory Committee. 17. Authorize the chairwoman and the clerk to sign all legal documents for the board, other than those requiring the signature of some other officer and authorize the vice chair to sign in the absence of the chair 18 authorize the superintendent for the city of fairfax schools to execute official documents relating to state federal and local aid as well as procurement and other

[00:07:27] documents that by policy or practice the school board has authorized the superintendent to execute thank you ms hickman read into record the annual school board organization and arrangements and appointments is there a second i second thank you miss kelsey all in favor of the school board organization arrangements and appointments signify by saying aye aye none are opposed motion uh the recording is unanimous okay next item are presentations to the school board um and

[00:08:04] first on the list is citizen participation we do not have anybody signed up um we have no public hearings tonight so we'll move right into action items um the first action item is the approval of the june 1st 2026 regular meeting minutes the clerk has provided these mitten minutes is there a motion madam chair thank you miss bartlemy miss bartlemy moved may i have a second second okay miss barley moved the accessory has seconded the minutes of the june 1st 2026 regular school board meeting minutes be approved as printed and distributed are there any changes modifications

[00:08:42] or additions okay being none all those in favor signify by saying aye aye aye none are opposed motion passes unanimously the second action item is the approval of the employee contracts um for assistant superintendent dan phillips communications director carolyn dorsey i always get confused when i see your name um tom wood and the amended contract for superintendent wright for fiscal year 2027 may i have a motion please madam chair ms kelsey i move that the city of fairfax

[00:09:21] school board approved the employment contracts for dan phillips assistant superintendent carolyn dorsey communications director services contract for tom wood facilities director and amend contract for dustin wright superintendent for the fiscal year 2027 as printed and distributed may have a second a second thank you miss miss kelsey has moved miss bartlemy is seconded to approve the employee contracts over assistant superintendent dan phillips communications director carrie dorsey and facilities director tom wood amended contract for dr wright superintendent for fiscal

[00:09:54] year 2027. any changes modifications or additions okay hearing none all those in favor signify by saying aye aye aye aye no no members are opposed so the motion passes unanimously our next item is the consideration of the adoption of the resolution supporting a referendum for a one percent local option sales and use tax in the city of fairfax miss sessori could you please read the resolution into the record thank you madam chair resolution supporting a referendum for a one percent local

[00:10:30] options sales and use tax in the city of fairfax virginia whereas the city of fairfax school board board of the city of fairfax virginia city is committed to providing safe modern high quality learning environments that support student achievement student well-being and the continued success of the city's public schools and whereas the city of fairfax school board owns the city facilities serving city of fairfax students and is responsible for major capital improvements including the construction renovation modernization and long-term maintenance of school buildings and whereas the board has determined that it is necessary to undertake

[00:11:09] a program of school capital improvement projects for the public school system of the city including major renovation and modernization projects that will promote the public welfare of the city its students its families and its inhabitants and whereas the cost of major school capital projects together with related financing costs presents a significant financial challenge for the city and its taxpayers. And whereas reliance on real estate taxes and general obligation debt alone places a substantial burden on city residents and property owners. And whereas the board recognizes the

[00:11:45] importance of providing localities with voter approved revenue tools to help address eligible capital and infrastructure needs in a responsible manner. And whereas an additional local option sales and use tax provides a responsible mechanism to diversify revenue for school capital needs by allowing a broader base of those who shop work visit and do business in the city to contribute to the cost of the long-term school infrastructure and whereas the 2026 special session one state budget amendments authorized any county or city located in planning district 8 to levy a general

[00:12:22] retail sales tax at a rate not to exceed 1%, as determined by its governing body, to provide revenue solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools serving such county or city, public transportation purposes, or both, and whereas the City of Red Vax is located in Planning District 8, and whereas because the state budget language authorizes use of the local option sales and use tax for school construction or renovation, public transportation purposes, or both.

[00:12:55] The support expressed by the board in this resolution is intended to support all options authorized by the Commonwealth, subject to action by the City Council, and approval by the voters of the City of Fairfax. And whereas the state budget language requires that such tax may be levied only if approved by referendum within the county or city, initiated by a resolution of the local governing body, and held in accordance with applicable provisions of Virginia law, and whereas revenues generated from a local option sales and use tax can provide critical support for eligible capital

[00:13:30] projects and purposes authorized by commonwealth including schools school construction or renovation public transportation purposes or both and whereas the board believes that the voters of the city of fairfax should have the opportunity to consider whether to approve a one percent local option sales and use tax to support school capital projects and reduce reliance on local revenue sources now therefore be it resolved by the school board of the city of fairfax virginia one the board expresses its strong support for pursuing a one percent local option sales and use tax as authorized by the commonwealth of virginia for the purposes of financing

[00:14:10] school capital projects serving the city of fairfax two the board support for a local one percent option sales and use tax includes all options authorized by the commonwealth of virginia school renovation excuse me school construction or renovation public transportation purposes or both subject to city council action and approval by referendum three the board requests that the council of the city of fairfax as the local governing body take all necessary steps to initiate a referendum on the question of loving a one percent local option sales and use tax consistent with the authority granted by the commonwealth of virginia and applicable provisions

[00:14:48] of the virginian law for the board supports and prioritize prioritizes the use of revenues generated by the one percent local option sales and use tax for capital projects for the construction renovation and modernization of schools serving the city of fairfax included related bond loan and financing costs to the extent permitted by law five the board further supports continuing collaboration among the school board city council city staff and the community insurance transparency regarding the planned use of such revenues yes revenues the school capital projects to be supported

[00:15:27] and the long-term fiscal benefits to the city six the clerk of the board is authorized to direct to cause a certified copy of this resolution to be delivered forthwith to the city clerk seven the resolution shall take effective immediately thank you miss sessori that was a long one may i have a motion please madam chair miss bartlemy i move that the city of fairfax school board adopt the resolution supporting a referendum for one percent local option sales and use tax in the city of fairfax thank you is there a second second okay miss bartlemy moved miss hickman

[00:16:06] seconded the city of fairfax school board adopt the resolution supporting a referendum for a one percent uh option sales and local use uh uh tax in the city of fairfax are there any changes modifications or additions okay hearing none all those in favor signify by saying aye hi hi no members are opposed the motion is unanimous um i'm going to circle back because when we did the organization we um we left off the fact that lauren bartlemay will represent us on the rotary

[00:16:38] which is quite the endeavor it's a it's a a pretty significant responsibility so thank you for sorry i don't know how that happened okay okay um all right uh now we'll move on to superintendent matters Thank You chair pitches at this time I'll see most of my time and wish the students the staff and the families of the city of Fairfax schools a relaxing and enjoyable summer for board matters I'm going to speak

[00:17:16] this evening on behalf of the board to just wish everybody a healthy safe and happy happy happy happy summer and we look forward to seeing everybody in school in August if there's nothing else before the board I will adjourn this meeting at seven I'm sorry 6:47

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