Falls Church City School Board Meeting - February 10, 2026

Episode Summary:This week's School Board meeting opened with powerful student voices as we celebrated Black History Month. Meridian High School junior Xavier Smith, president of the Black Student Union, along with Vice President Aimee Harris, shared thoughtful reflections on the challenges Black students face in our community and offered concrete suggestions for expanding support beyond the high school level. Xavier's honest testimony about his experiences throughout his FCCPS education—and his vision for creating affirming spaces for younger Black students—provided an important perspective for our board and community.The meeting also recognized School Board Appreciation Month, with Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade highlighting how our board embodies the collaborative excellence that defines FCCPS, emphasizing that "the combined wisdom of our community is greater than any individual perspective."The heart of this meeting was Budget Work Session #3, where the board and administration continued their collaborative approach to developing the FY 2027 budget. This new process brings board priorities into the conversation early, creating a truly shared budget rather than the traditional model of presenting a superintendent's budget for revision.Board members shared updates from recent community engagement activities, including office hours at local restaurants, visits with scout troops, and the joint PTA budget meeting. Chair Tysse also expressed gratitude to staff for their exceptional work in safely reopening schools following recent winter weather challenges.The meeting concluded with a closed session to address personnel matters and the superintendent's performance evaluation.Featured Speakers: Xavier Smith and Aimee Harris (Meridian High School), Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade, School Board Chair Kathleen Tysse, and all School Board membersTopics Covered: Black History Month, Student Support Initiatives, Budget Development, Community Engagement, School OperationsFalls Church City Public Schools is a small IB World School division serving 2,700 students across five schools in Northern Virginia. Our Morning Announcements newsletter reaches readers in 34 countries daily. Learn more at fccps.org