Middle School Master Plan Community Information Session
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 | 6 to 7:30 p.m. | Zoom
Dear Students, Employees & Families:
Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) invites you to attend a virtual community information session focused on the new Middle School Master Plan on Wednesday, April 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. You can join this session, hosted by our Office of Community Engagement, by clicking on the following Zoom link:
https://k12albemarle.zoom.us/j/88589133638?pwd=MG51dTMzUUVOUFZhc1NYYWIzSGtMdz09
ACPS owns and operates five comprehensive middle schools, plus Community Lab School, which serves both middle and high school students. While our middle schools currently provide adequate space to serve our students, there are looming overcrowding issues at Henley Middle School in Crozet and at Journey Middle School on Lambs Lane in Charlottesville. Based on projected enrollment growth, the age and condition of our middle school facilities, as well as other factors, we are moving forward with a comprehensive study of all middle schools with the goal of developing a master plan to address, improve and resolve our capacity challenges and our renovation needs. As part of our work to determine feasible solutions that will ensure educational adequacy and parity, this study will evaluate and consider some complicated issues, including middle schools that serve multiple feeder patterns; under-enrollment at some of our schools; the varying ages, sizes and conditions of our facilities; and the unique needs of each community. All recommendations will be consistent with the vision, mission, values and goals of the division’s strategic plan.
We have partnered with VMDO Architects, a local architectural firm specializing in K-12 education, to conduct the Middle School Master Plan. Work began this month and will continue through the end of the calendar year. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. for our virtual community information session, which will serve as the public kickoff for the project. The meeting will include:
- An overview of the Middle School Master Plan, including background information on each middle school, the purpose of the master plan, and how the plan will align with the ACPS strategic plan;
- A dynamic presentation, The Adolescent Learner, by YouthNex Director Nancy Deutsch;
- An interactive discussion, Middle School Environments of the 21st Century, moderated by VMDO Architects;
- Multiple opportunities for you to share your opinions and priorities for the master plan via the Slido Q&A and polling platform, which allows participants to provide feedback using their cell phone or any interactive device that can read a QR code;
- Small group breakout activities through which you can share thoughts and ideas about the master plan; and
- A question-and-answer session.
Please join us for this exciting, interactive information session! Come prepared to ask questions and share your ideas and visions for Albemarle County’s ‘middle school of the future,’ and don’t forget your cell phone!
If you’re interested but unable to attend, you will be able to access a recording of the session on our YouTube channel. You can also follow along as the project progresses on our Middle School Master Plan web page.