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October 31, 2025

    Happy Friday, and Happy Halloween to all who celebrate! Last night we participated at a Trunk or Treat organized by Delegate Adele McClure--it was great to see so many AEA members and community members. The kids were very excited (and adorable). I'm sure they are just as excited today.

    Don't forget to set your clocks back this weekend, and PLEASE make a plan to vote on Tuesday if you haven't done so already.  You may not be interested in politics, but as long as politicians are interested in the work we do, WE MUST VOTE!

    ➡️Have you moved recently?  Switched worksites? Changed your name?  Help us keep our rosters up to date--email admin@aeava.org with any changes.

    ➡️OFFICE CLOSURE: Due to staffing issues, the AEA Office will be closed on November 7.  

    Bargaining Updates


    Licensed Bargaining Update

    AEA is pleased to share that negotiations on the salary reopener for the 2026–2027 school year have concluded with an agreement for a 2.8% salary increase for Licensed staff.

    The reopener language, negotiated last spring, required the parties to reopen negotiations on wages if the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) was higher

    than 2.5% at the end of September 2025. The CPI-W came in at 2.8%, which triggered this round of negotiations.

    Social Security calculates its annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) using this same index—comparing inflation data from the third quarter of the current year to the same period in the previous year.

    Because of this reopener, AEA was able to secure an increase that aligns with that COLA, helping salaries keep pace with rising costs.

    The 2.8% increase will take effect for the 2026–2027 school year.

    Support Bargaining Update

    Negotiations for a successor Support Unit agreement began in early October. Our bargaining team reports they are seeing positive movement, with many tentative agreements (TAs) already reached.

    If you haven’t had a chance to complete the Workplace Incidents Involving Damaged Personal Items or Injuries Survey, you can fill it out here: [insert link].

    Survey responses from both Support and Licensed staff help support our bargaining proposals as negotiations continue.

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    AEA Member Kudos

    Congratulations to the following AEA members who received mini-grants from VEA:


    Suzanne Norfleet of Barrett ES: A Calming Corner

    Megan Zelasko of Campbell ES: Reimagining Creativity: Expanding our Classroom Makerspace

    Fallon Keplinger of the Career Center: From Tea Leaves to Talk: Brewing Tea, and Human Connection

    Gwen Zaberer of Washington Liberty HS: Using Arts Integration to Impact English Language Learners Academic Vocabulary

    Congratulations to AEA members and APS All-Stars for October:

    Erin Pavolko at Fleet ES, Catrina Tangchittsumran at Thomas Jefferson MS, and Thomas (TJ) Johnson at Wakefield HS.

    Congratulations to Anthony Frazier of the Career Center for being named Virginia's Air &Space Forces Association (AFA) 2025 Teacher of the Year!

    Would you like a shout out, or would you like to shout out another member? Email admin@aeava.org

    Supporting Students and Families

    APS is here to support our students and families. In response to the federal government shutdown, we are launching an evening meal program providing free hot dinners for APS families.

    Beginning Thu, Nov. 6, meals will be served Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and Yorktown High School. Families are invited to dine with us and enjoy a hot meal together.

    A few of you have asked for a refresher on resources on Immigration Issues. Please use the following link for more information:

    Take Action

    Interested in hearing from VEA endorsed candidate for Governor, Abigail Spanberger?

    Until Election Day, Spanberger Will Make Stops in All 11 of Virginia’s Congressional Districts as Part of a 40-Plus-Stop Tour. In the lead up to Election Day on November 4, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger will embark on another bus tour across the Commonwealth — the 11-day, 40-plus-stop “Virginia Votes Bus Tour,” which will kick off this weekend.   For more details and to RSVP, click on the mobilize links below.        

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025 NORFOLK https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/858889/  

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025

    BACKGROUND Spanberger remains focused on putting Virginians first as Governor — by lowering costs for Virginia families, growing Virginia’s economy, and making sure Virginia’s schools are the best in the nation.  

    Earlier this year, Spanberger rolled out her Affordable Virginia Plan to lower Virginians’ healthcare, housing, and energy costs. The cost of living remains the top issue for Virginia voters.  

    In July, Spanberger rolled out her Growing Virginia Plan to grow workforce training opportunities for Virginians, bring more business investment to Virginia, and expand trade opportunities for Virginia businesses. In the face of the Trump Administration’s attacks on Virginia’s economy and workforce — attacks that led the University of Virginia to forecast that the Commonwealth will have virtually no job growth in 2026, Spanberger will stand up for Virginia jobs.  

    In August, Spanberger announced her Strengthening Virginia Schools Plan to strengthen Virginia’s child care and early childhood education programs, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher education. As a mom of three kids in Virginia public schools, Spanberger has a plan to make sure Virginia’s schools are the best in America.   The “Virginia Votes Bus Tour” is Spanberger’s second statewide bus tour of her campaign. Earlier this year, Spanberger completed her eight-day, 49-stop “Span Virginia Bus Tour,” which energized voters across the Commonwealth.


    APS is seeking comments and feedback on the below policies.

    Number

    Policy Title and link to Draft Policy

    Anticipated SB Action

    Comment Period Opens

    Comment Period Closes

    Policy questionnaires

    K-14.30

    Volunteers and Partners

    Mar 2026

    Oct 30, 2025

    Nov 29, 2025

    Provide Feedback

    L-9

    Accreditation of Schools

    Mar 2026

    Oct 30, 2025

    Nov 29, 2025

    Provide Feedback

    M-10

    Planetarium

    Mar 2026

    Oct 30, 2025

    Nov 29, 2025

    Provide Feedback


    Upcoming Events


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