Arlington Public Schools
How a school facility need gets decided in Arlington Public Schools
3 tracks, 3 different owners. A need lands on one of them based on what it is and what it costs. These are APS's own processes; every school in the district runs on the same ones.
Capital Improvement Plan
Documented, not yet confirmed10-year School Board plan funding major facility investments largely through County GO bonds
- When a need goes on this track
- Large building-system projects the School Board lists in the adopted CIP (Oakridge is here)
- Policy
- Va. Code § 15.2-2640 (bond referendum request); adopted FY2027-36 CIP
- 1
CIP direction
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: School Board · School Board meeting
- 2
Superintendent's proposed CIP
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: Superintendent · School Board meeting information item
- 3
CIP adoption and bond request
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: School Board · School Board meeting (vote)
- 4
County Board resolution and court-ordered election
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: County Board then Circuit Court · County Board meeting
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Bond referendum
2026 Bond Referenda
Arlington County Government
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Question 4 text and project list
Decides: Arlington voters · General election
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Project development and design
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: School Board · School Board meetings (approves at design milestones)
- 7
Construction
APS Approved FY 2027-36 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Adopted June 18 2026; report dated August 2026; Appendix C funding timeline is an image (not read)
Decides: APS Facilities and Operations · Site
Major Construction/Minor Maintenance
DraftReplacement of major building components (HVAC, roofs, floors, cafeterias) too large for the operating maintenance budget and not listed as a CIP project; funded annually in the Capital Projects Fund, $3.0M one-time in FY27
- When a need goes on this track
- Smaller facility work not listed as a CIP project; no public dollar cutoff vs the CIP
- Policy
- APS Policy F-5.7 Capital and Maintenance Program and PIP F-5.7 (revisions adopted Aug 13, 2026 under consent; the revised PIP removed the MC/MM committee)
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Need entered as a work order
Maintenance Services
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-28
Work orders entered by a coordinator at each school; MC/MM "funded annually in the Capital Projects Fund"; operating budget covers scheduled maintenance and minor repairs.
Decides: School work-order coordinator · School (each facility has a designated coordinator)
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Facilities assessment and placement in the MC/MM program
Maintenance Services
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-28
Work orders entered by a coordinator at each school; MC/MM "funded annually in the Capital Projects Fund"; operating budget covers scheduled maintenance and minor repairs.
Decides: APS Facilities and Operations · Staff; no public list of candidate projects
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Annual MC/MM funding in the Capital Projects Fund
Budget
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
FY27 MC/MM $3.0M one-time; no definition
Decides: School Board · Budget adoption (Superintendent proposes; Board holds public hearings) · typically annual
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Project execution
Maintenance Services
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-28
Work orders entered by a coordinator at each school; MC/MM "funded annually in the Capital Projects Fund"; operating budget covers scheduled maintenance and minor repairs.
Decides: APS Facilities and Operations · Site
How to raise a need on this track
Soonest first. Each venue carries a question you can put to it as written.
County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) meeting
On Oct 21, 2026, in 2 daysWednesday, Oct 21, 2026, 7 p.m., Zoom
Through your PTA delegate. The CCPTA executive board raised MC/MM transparency with the Board on Aug 13.
What to ask
“Has APS responded to the CCPTA's Aug 13 question on MC/MM engagement? Can the CCPTA ask for the FY27 $3.0M project list?”
Arlington County Council of PTAs: 2026-27 meetings
Arlington CCPTA
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Zoom, 7 p.m.; open to PTA delegates and executive board invitees only
Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs
Closes Oct 31, 2026, in 12 daysApplications through Oct 31, 2026; meets monthly with public minutes
Apply through the general advisory council application. The council advises the Board on facilities and the capital program.
What to ask
“How are MC/MM needs identified and prioritized, which projects were deferred this year, and where can a school community see that list?”
School Board Advisory Councils: Apply Today
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-28
Application timeline May 20 - October 31, 2026, rolling appointments; councils meet monthly; lists the Advisory Council on School Facilities and Capital Programs.
Any time
A designated coordinator at each school enters work orders; Maintenance Services routes them to a trades division. Ask the front office who that is.
What to ask
“Has this need been entered as a work order, and has Maintenance Services referred it to the MC/MM program or to the CIP?”
Maintenance Services
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-28
Work orders entered by a coordinator at each school; MC/MM "funded annually in the Capital Projects Fund"; operating budget covers scheduled maintenance and minor repairs.
Spring 2027; the Superintendent proposes in late winter and the Board holds hearings before adopting
Public hearings are the one scheduled moment the MC/MM allocation is decided in public.
What to ask
“Which projects does the MC/MM allocation fund this year, which were deferred, and by what criteria?”
Budget
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
FY27 MC/MM $3.0M one-time; no definition
School Board meeting, Oct 8, 2026
Passed Oct 8, 2026Thursday, 7 p.m., Syphax Education Center
Sign up to speak (2 minutes) when the form opens the week before.
What to ask
“On Aug 13 the CCPTA asked where community engagement occurs in the MC/MM process now that the committee is gone from PIP F-5.7. What is the answer, and where will the MC/MM project list be published?”
School Board Meetings (2026-27 dates)
Arlington Public Schools
Retrieved 2026-09-24
Lists Oct 8, Oct 22, Nov 12 2026; 7 p.m. at Syphax unless noted
What has been asked about this track
- Aug 13, 2026to School BoardNo answer
Where in the MC/MM process does meaningful community engagement occur? If the committee named in the PIP is no longer the vehicle, what will take its place? Will Facilities and Operations publish proposed projects and priorities, and will school communities be able to identify needs and give feedback?
Asked in public comment by the CCPTA executive board the night the Board adopted revisions to Policy F-5.7 under consent. The revised PIP removed most references to the MC/MM committee. No public answer appears in the Sept 10 or Sept 24 meeting transcripts.
Source: School Board meeting transcript, August 13, 2026
Private gift / external funding
DraftDonations or privately funded building/grounds improvements reviewed under D-15
- When a need goes on this track
- Any private money for a facility improvement; approver depends on project size
- Policy
- APS Policy D-15 External Funding (2025 draft text)
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Donor proposal to principal (2025 draft policy)
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Decides: Principal · School
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Review by Asst. Supt. F&O and Superintendent (2025 draft policy)
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Decides: Superintendent (or designee) · Staff review
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School Board approval (projects >= $100,001) (2025 draft policy)
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Decides: School Board · School Board meeting
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MOU (>= $15,000) or acceptance letter (< $15,000) (2025 draft policy)
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Decides: School Board or Superintendent; principal for < $15,000
How to raise a need on this track
Soonest first. Each venue carries a question you can put to it as written.
Any time; start here
Under the D-15 draft a private-funding proposal starts with the school. CCPTA guidance: confirm staff would welcome and can maintain it.
What to ask
“Would APS accept and maintain this improvement, what would it add to annual operating costs, and would other schools want the same feature?”
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Facilities and Operations review (projects under $15,000, 2025 draft policy)
After the principal agrees
The 2025 draft makes projects under $15,000 reviewable by Facilities and Operations, with an acceptance letter rather than an MOU.
What to ask
“Does this project meet the three D-15 tests: benefit, no unplanned operating cost, no new inequity among schools?”
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
School Board meeting; MOU required at $15,000 and above
Larger privately funded improvements go to the Board. The equity test in D-15 asks whether other schools would want a similar feature.
What to ask
“If this school can fund it privately, what is the plan for schools that cannot?”
Proposed revisions to Policy D-15 External Funding-Commercial Activities (draft)
Arlington School Board (BoardDocs)
Retrieved 2026-09-24
January 2025 first draft; adopted text not verified
Countdowns computed as of 2026-10-19. Reviewing these for APS? Print the confirmation sheet.