🌱 FCPS School Calendars Through 2026 + New Speed Camera Pilot Program

Welcome, Fairfax Station. My name is Nicole Fallon-Peek, and I'll be your new host of the Fairfax Station Patch. I'm here in your inbox to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including news on:

• The FCPS school calendars for the next three years.
• The County's new speed camera pilot program launch.
• An arrest for the December 2022 murder of a Fairfax resident.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and mild. High: 58 Low: 45.
• Wednesday: Warm with clouds breaking. High: 66 Low: 48.
• Thursday: Brief afternoon showers. High: 64 Low: 54.
• Friday: A couple of morning showers. High: 60 Low: 27.

🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Fairfax Station, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Fairfax Station Patch newsletter. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories in Fairfax Station:

1. The Fairfax County School Board recently approved the school year calendars for the next three years. The school year starts two weeks before Labor Day and has a two-week winter break. Over 78,000 people participated in the survey that helped determine the calendar, which meets the 180 instructional days required by Virginia law. The school board also directed the superintendent to develop a draft calendar policy for future discussions. (Patch)
2. The Fairfax County is launching a new Speed Camera Pilot Program to improve traffic safety in school zones. The program aims to slow down drivers and change their behaviors to keep residents safe; previous data showed that thousands of drivers exceeded the speed limit in five school zones surveyed last year. Information about the camera locations and program details can be found on the county's website. (Fairfax County Virginia)
3. A 22-year-old Alexandria man, Malik Johnson, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to a fatal shooting that took place in December in Fairfax County. The victim, 26-year-old Jordan Summers of Fairfax, was found on the sidewalk with trauma to the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene. After reviewing forensic evidence and surveillance footage, detectives identified Johnson as the suspect and took him into custody. Johnson has been charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm while committing a felony; police are still searching for the firearm used in the shooting. (WRIC)
4. Governor Glenn Youngkin is backing legislation that would require Virginia school divisions to spend any unused federal pandemic funds or forfeit them. Fairfax County Public Schools have the most unspent funds, representing over $170 million. School divisions would be required to spend their remaining funds by Jul. 1 or forfeit them later this summer. The bill is facing opposition from those who believe it interferes with decisions made by school divisions and conflicts with federal guidance on relief spending. (Royal Examiner)
5. Two Virginia lawmakers introduced bills last month to allow the construction of a casino in any locality with a population over 1 million that operates under an urban county executive form of government, which only applies to Fairfax County. However, the bills were withdrawn just days later due to concerns over the speed of the process and the need for more research. Despite the door being left open for legislation to be re-introduced in 2024, discussions with lawmakers, county officials, and economic experts suggest little appetite for a Fairfax County casino. The proposed restrictions for the casino location, such as being outside of the Beltway and not in the Dulles airport flight path, have also received negative response from the community. (Virginia Mercury)

Coming up in and around Fairfax Station:

Tuesday, February 14

• Love Letters To Nature Workshop with Nicole Salimbene (10:30 AM)

Wednesday, February 15

• K-Pop’s Got Soul At Fenwick Library (10:30 AM)

Thursday, February 16

• Homecoming Headliner 2023: Jennette McCurdy At George Mason University Center For The Arts (8:00 PM)

Friday, February 17

• Spring 2023 Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group (Virtual), Hosted By (1:00 PM)

Saturday, February 18

• Mason Jazz Festival 2023 At George Mason University Harris Theatre (9:00 AM)
• Doug Varone And Dancers At George Mason University Center For The Arts (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a new local job? Plenty of employers in the Fairfax Station area are currently hiring for full- and part-time positions across job functions, including customer service, financial services, sales, and more. Check out our latest jobs roundup for more details and application information. (Fairfax Station Patch)
• Did you catch that a Fairfax County native was among the first all-female flight team doing the Super Bowl flyover this weekend? Read more about Naomi Ngalle, a Springfield native and Navy pilot, in this feature on WJLA. (WJLA)
• Calling all house hunters! These gorgeous properties have just been listed for sale in and around Fairfax Station, including one in Burke with three beds and three baths for $429,000, and another in the Springfield area with four beds and four baths for $775,000. Get the property specs and list prices at the link. (Fairfax Station Patch)

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• NOVA Virtual 50+ Employment Expo - Registration is OPEN! (February 17)
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That's it for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.