After reverting to virtual learning two days before winter break due to multiple fights, Alexandria City High School fully reopened with extra security guards and new safety measures at both high school campuses.
The additions include extra security guards at the ACHS King Street and Minnie Howard campuses, new security protocols at weapons screenings, more hallway monitoring, security duty stations in high-traffic areas and increased lunch supervision, according to an email from the Alexandria City Public Schools to ALXnow.
Two days before going on a two-week winter break, the high school went to virtual learning due to multiple fights in school hallways and the cafeteria of the King Street campus. Two students were charged with assault and battery and one student was injured and taken to a clinic.
ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt defended the move to go virtual “out of an abundance of caution and to prevent further instructional disruptions.”
School reopened on Jan. 9 — three days later than scheduled — due to a snowstorm. Students ended up being out of the school building for three weeks.
Security has been an increasingly complex issue for the school system. In the 2023/2024 school year, 69 students were referred to court to face allegations of illegal behavior.
The following security enhancements were shared with Alexandria City High School families and staff:
The following safety enhancements have been implemented as of Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025:
- Additional Security Personnel: Additional school security personnel have been added to the ACHS- King Street and Minnie Howard campuses. The additional security personnel were in place upon reopening after Winter Break.
- Changes and Updates to Our Security Protocols: We reiterated standing security protocol as part of the letter shared with families upon the return to school. We have specifically reminded students to adhere to the removal of binders, laptops, umbrellas and eye glass cases also known as the BLUE process during weapons screening, which allows the process to move more efficiently and helps alleviate lines associated with the process.
- Hall Sweeps and Duty Stations: ACHS has conducted increased hall sweeps at both campuses. Throughout the day, announcements are made at the start/stop of the hall sweep. Each period, when the announcement is made, students in the hallway are escorted/directed to a hall sweep location, where they are documented as being tardy. Students then have a follow-up conversation with faculty and staff; before being escorted back to class. Additionally, staff have been assigned duty stations in high-volume areas to maintain an increased visible, supportive presence.
- Elevated Lunch Supervision: Lunch blocks have increased oversight, including the use of MINGA ID check-ins and control access to meal areas.
- Staggered Dismissal and Transition Process: The staggered dismissal process currently in place will continue, along with additional detention sessions during lunch and after school to hold students accountable for infractions.
- Hallway Monitoring: ACHS staff have begun contributing portions of their planning time to provide additional monitoring and support during high traffic times, and as needed.
Alexandria City High School administrators and central office staff are collaborating alongside school-based staff and partners across the City of Alexandria on the following student interventions and supports:
- Using data to assess the root causes of disruptive student behaviors from students involved in the incidents to better understand their behaviors and explore different solutions that are culturally relevant.
- Reinforcing our social-emotional learning curriculum with all students and taking an individualized approach to students who engage in altercations to support them with meeting behavioral expectations.
- Increased adult supervision and the presence of trusted adults to assist students with building relationships so students feel more comfortable sharing information with these trusted adults when they are having difficulty or conflicts.
- Enhanced communication and partnership with families of students involved in the incidents to learn more about the needs of each student to connect families with strategies and community resources.
- Gathering feedback from students and monitoring and tracking tiered interventions to determine the impact on academics, behavior and attendance.
