Policy Manualin progress
Status set at the School Board Work Session on Oct 19, 2026
The City of Fairfax Schools Policy Manual is an ongoing governance topic that has appeared across multiple board meetings and retreats.
Attorney Stacy Haney of Haney Phinyowattanachip PLLC presented on the policy manual (alongside FOIA and COIA topics) at the February 2025 School Board Retreat. On April 7, 2025, the Board unanimously approved an update to Section 1.34 of the Policy Manual (5-0: Pitches, Hickman, Kelsey, Bartelme, and Cecere all in favor). A January 2026 transcript excerpt indicates the manual had not been substantively updated since 2022, and board members were asked to review it ahead of a retreat.
Policy manual updates were reviewed again with no formal action at the September 2026 Annual Fall Retreat. At the October 19, 2026 Work Session, the Board agreed to hire an external consultant (approximately $5,000) to review the manual and recommend improvements, with the possibility of subsequently subscribing to the VSBA policy service at $2,500 per year if recommended by the consultant. A consultant report is targeted prior to the spring retreat.
Still open
- Selection and engagement of the external policy manual consultant (approx. $5,000) is pending.
- Consultant report is expected prior to the spring retreat — the specific spring retreat date and whether that deadline will be met are not yet confirmed.
- A decision on whether to subscribe to the VSBA policy service ($2,500/year) is contingent on the consultant's recommendation.
- Board members were asked to identify areas of the manual needing adjustment or amendment — no formal compilation of those suggestions has been recorded.
What members have said
Voted yes on the April 7, 2025 approval of the Section 1.34 update. No recorded verbal commentary on the broader policy manual topic.
Seconded the motion to approve the Section 1.34 update on April 7, 2025, per the transcript excerpt. Also voted yes on that motion.
Voted yes on the April 7, 2025 approval of the Section 1.34 update. No recorded verbal commentary on the broader policy manual topic.
Voted yes on the April 7, 2025 approval of the Section 1.34 update. No recorded verbal commentary on the broader policy manual topic.
Voted yes on the April 7, 2025 approval of the Section 1.34 update. No recorded verbal commentary on the broader policy manual topic.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Mar 17, 2025 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Feb 10, 2025School Board · item 4FOIA, COIA and Policy Manual
Attorney Stacy Haney presented on the policy manual at the retreat.
- Approval of Update to Section 1.34 of the School Board Policy Manual
[4.02] The update to section 1.34 of the School Board Policy Manual was approved unanimously at this meeting.
passedApprove the update to section 1.34 of the School Board Policy Manual as printed and distributed.✓ Pitches✓ Hickman✓ Kelsey✓ Bartelme✓ Cecere - Sep 26, 2026School Board · item 1.05Policy Manual Updates
[1.05] Policy Manual updates were reviewed at the Fall Retreat; no formal action or vote was recorded.
- Policy Manual Options
[1.04] Board agreed to pursue an external consultant (approx. $5,000) to review and recommend policy manual improvements, with a potential subsequent VSBA policy service subscription ($2,500/year); consultant report expected before the spring retreat.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.