Author Archives: Division Compass

Statement on Public Sector Collective Bargaining in Albemarle County Public Schools

Posted on by
ACPS logo

On Thursday afternoon, September 7, shortly after the fourth regularly scheduled negotiation session between the School Board and the Albemarle Education Association (AEA) began, the AEA representatives terminated the discussions and walked out of the meeting. The School Board representatives remained at the negotiating table for another 30 minutes, but the AEA representatives did not return.

Progress toward the School Board’s adoption of a mutually agreed-upon collective bargaining agreement was being made. Continue reading →

Work Out & Give Back This September

Posted on by
ACAC logo

Throughout the month of September, acac Fitness and Wellness Centers is partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson’s Research for their 30 days for $30 campaign. Try acac, commitment free, and enjoy 30 days of unlimited group exercise classes, aquatics, a state-of-the-art fitness floor, Kids Zone child care, and more at your local acac, all while supporting the development of new treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease (100% of your $30 pass will benefit the work of the MJFF). Get started at acac.com/30days or scan the QR code in the flyer below. Continue reading →

Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood on Sept. 19!

Posted on by
All in to help save lives visual for blood drive

Hello ACPS team! We have an extraordinary opportunity to make a real difference in our community by partnering with the American Red Cross for our second ACPS Blood Drive! Join us on Tuesday, September 19, by rolling up your sleeves to help save lives! The Red Cross has over 135 years of experience providing humanitarian aid, including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need. By donating just a small amount of your time (60 minutes or less), you can help save lives and contribute to a cause that truly matters.

📅 Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
⏰ Time: 1 to 6 p.m.
🏢 Location: Lane Auditorium, County Office Building, 401 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville VA, 22902

Continue reading →

Check Out Our Fall 2023 PD Offerings & Subscribe to Receive Updates!

Posted on by
Professional Development Opportunities banner


The Office of Professional Development has launched its Fall 2023 Professional Development Opportunities website! This site features both internal and external professional development (PD) opportunities, PD offerings for teaching assistants, and info about state conferences. Please use the tabs (Internal PD, External PD, etc.) to navigate the various offerings. Continue reading →

Public Education Foundation Reception – Sept. 13

Posted on by
Public Education Foundation of Charlottesville-Albemarle logo

The Public Education Foundation of Charlottesville-Albemarle invites Albemarle County and Charlottesville City public school educators, administrators, board members, and supporters to a reception on Wednesday, September 13, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at The Wine Guild of Charlottesville, located just off Harris Street at 600 Concord Avenue. This reception is all about coming together as a community to show appreciation for the hard work of our educators and the importance of quality public education.

Please register to attend the Public Education Foundation Reception and join us on Wednesday for free food and beverages and an opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and learn about exciting initiatives that the Public Education Foundation has in store for local schools. Continue reading →

ALICE Training Update

Posted on by
ALICE Training Banner


Dear ACPS Employees,

ALICE Training is an important part of safety and security for our staff and our students. Thank you for your diligence and attention in taking part in the school-based ALICE Training during pre-service week. To date, a total of 2,461 employees have completed the eLearning component of ALICE, and 1,092 employees have completed the in-person training.

Please keep reading for information about receiving recertification points, providing training feedback, upcoming ALICE trainings, and volunteering to develop training modules for students. Continue reading →

Center I Security Notice

Posted on by
Center I logo

Effective Thursday, August 31, 2023, the entry door at Center I will be locked to increase safety for students and staff at Center I. You must swipe your ACPS ID Badge at the door to unlock it. If you experience any issues, you can press the button and ring for assistance.

When attending professional development at Center I or visiting the Technology offices, please enter through the loading dock doors located at the back of the building, Suite 385 (the sign reads ACPS Deliveries 385). These building navigation directions will guide you through the spaces at Center I.

Your ACPS HR: What Is an HR Business Partner?

Posted on by
Human Resources sketch with keywords and icons

This article is the second in a series about the new Albemarle County Public Schools Human Resources Department. The restructuring effort has prioritized Human Resources’ ability to meet its mission to recruit, retain, and develop employees to ensure Learning for All. HR’s mission helps ensure that the strategic plan can be realized and that every employee is able to contribute to the success of every student.

As part of the HR redesign, the school division received quite a bit of feedback. One consistent theme in the feedback supported a move from “transactional” to “transformational.” Continue reading →

Updated COVID-19 Infection Control & Isolation Guidance

Posted on by
COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Update

As a reminder, the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ended on May 11, 2023, and in response, ACPS discontinued its COVID Leave Bank program effective August 12, 2023. COVID-related absences are treated like absences for any other illness, requiring employees to use their accrued leave. To aid in this transition, ACPS will add a one-time grant of five sick leave days to the sick leave balances of all benefits-eligible employees on or around September 1, 2023. Eligibility requires employment commencement by that date. For more information, please see our August 22 Compass post.

The division’s current COVID-19 infection control and isolation protocols and guidance can be found on the Mitigation Strategies page of our COVID-19 Response site. Continue reading →

Important Notices Regarding September 1 Payroll, VRS/Securian Optional Life Coverage & Compensation for Summer School/Summer Training

Posted on by
Important

Please keep reading for information about three important notices from Human Resources. The first addresses September payroll and provides useful links to the 2023 payroll calendar, the ADP Employee Portal, and tips for understanding your paystub. The second notice pertains to VRS/Securian’s Optional Life coverage and a reduction in rates for some members. The final notice addresses compensation for summer work, including employees who taught summer school and those who participated in summer professional development. Continue reading →