After a contentious discussion, the Alexandria City School Board last night (Thursday) approved its $282.3 million Capital Improvement Program budget for fiscal years 2027-36.
The 5-4 approval of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed budget comes in at $3.5 million below the recommended amount from City Manager Jim Parajon’s office. The CIP includes $23 million in funding for non-capacity projects next year, including $1.8 million in school bus/vehicle replacements, $1.8 million for emergency repairs and $1.3 million in curriculum and instruction materials. It also accounts for the $2 million development of the Alexandria City High School’s Chance for Change Academy.
At the center of last night’s exchange was the CIP’s inclusion of funding for two contested K-8 conversions in 2030 to address ACPS’ middle school capacity issues. The CIP funds these conversions while deferring renovations at the Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology by eight years.
Board Chair Michelle Rief and Members Tim Beaty, Donna Kenley, Alex Scioscia and Ashley Simpson Baird approved the CIP, while Vice Chair Chris Harris and Members Kelly Carmichael Booz, Ryan Reyna and Abdulahi Abdalla voted against it.
The approval came on the heels of a motion by Harris to table the CIP vote until the board’s meeting on Jan. 8.
“I know that we have an issue with middle school [capacity] that has to be addressed, and I don’t want to rush into a decision that I’m going to regret in the morning,” Harris said.
Harris said the school system needed to further evaluate the Board’s choice to defer improvements at Cora Kelly from 2028 to 2036.
The decision was made to prioritize the middle school overcrowding in the city with the approved conversion of Jefferson-Houston Pre-K-8 school into a middle school, while contending with elementary school capacity issues by converting Patrick Henry K-8 School into an elementary school.
Scioscia said the board was ready to move forward with the CIP.
“What does further conversation look like to you all?” Scioscia asked. “Because I can appreciate maybe that’s this feels rushed to you, but to me, this feels very… like we sat down for two work sessions and had a very thorough discussion over this.”
Harris’ motion failed on a 5-4 vote, with Rief, Beaty, Kenley, Scioscia and Simpson Baird opposing a deferral, and Harris, Booz, Reyna and Abdalla voting in favor.
Last year, despite mixed community reaction, the Alexandria School Board voted to convert Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School into a middle school and Patrick Henry K-8 School into an elementary school.
Alexandria’s two middle schools are both well over 100% capacity, and, as budgeted, the conversion of Jefferson-Houston won’t start until 2030. The conversion of Patrick Henry K-8 school into an elementary school is also planned for 2030.
In a statement on behalf of the board, Rief thanked the CIP team and Department of Financial Services for their collaboration “on a budget focused on transforming spaces and thoughtfully expanding capacity.”
“As we look forward to FY27, we are committed to partnering with the City to advance planning efforts that address middle school capacity needs for our growing community,” Rief said.
Kay-Wyatt offered a similar statement of appreciation.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the School Board for their collaborative partnership and thoughtful engagement throughout this CIP process,” Kay-Wyatt said. “Together, we are creating enhanced learning environments that will enable our students, staff, and community to flourish. I am genuinely encouraged by the opportunities these funding commitments represent for continued growth, learning, and success across Alexandria City Public Schools.”
Kay-Wyatt will also submit her proposed FY 2027 budget to the school board next month.
