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Alexandria School Board elects new chair and vice chair

ACPS School Board Chair Michelle Rief (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has a new School Board chair and vice chair.

In a unanimous vote, with no other candidates nominated, Michelle Rief was chosen as the new school board chair, succeeding Meagan Alderton in the role. The term of leadership is one year.

There was little discussion about the decision. School Board member Abdel Elnoubi, who nominated Rief, said she will bring valuable insight to the role as the parent of three ACPS students and someone who puts a lot of effort into their work on the School Board and comes well prepared for meetings.

Rief, in turn, thanked Alderton for her service to the School Board over the last two years.

The slightly more contentious part came for the vice-chair position. Both School Board members Kelly Booz and Chris Harris were nominated for the vice chair position.

“Kelly Booz has shown a strong dedication to the school division [through] involvement in budget and policy committees,” said School Board member Tammy Ignacio. “Mrs. Booz and I may not always see eye to eye, but this diversity of opinions will only make our team stronger.”

Booz was elected in a five-four vote.