Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins says that recent immigration enforcement raids in nearby jurisdictions have resulted in “fear, confusion, and concern,” and that the city won’t assist federal investigators.
In a statement posted on the city website today, the Democrat mayor said that Alexandria will always be a welcoming community where “all residents are supported, respected, and valued.”
With President Donald Trump removing restrictions preventing Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from raiding schools, Alexandria Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt laid out the ways Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) are protected from ICE but also exceptions families should be aware of.
The message comes after a full-throated rebuke of ICE activities at school to the fullest extent allowable by law by Fairfax County Public Schools leadership. Kay-Wyatt’s message similarly noted that the schools can help shield children to an extent, but reaffirmed that ACPS “is obligated to comply with all lawful orders and warrants from any law enforcement entity, including ICE.
Alexandria City Public Schools’ (ACPS) new proposed budget comes with a raise for school district employees and more security for the schools.
At a budget presentation last night, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt proposed a budget that’s a 4% increase over the current fiscal year’s budget. That increase includes a full-step increase for all eligible staff at the beginning of the contract year and an additional step increase to increase maximum pay, though ACPS staff on a Facebook page for school faculty noted that this doesn’t come with a cost of living adjustment.
Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will unveil her fiscal year 2026 budget this week, and the city is asking the school division to keep the budget increase over last year’s budget modest.
In his budget presentation to the City Council in November, City Manager Jim Parajon outlined a 2%, or $5.5 million, combined funds budget increase for ACPS amounting to $278.5 million.
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.
Alexandria City Public Schools will open with a two-hour delay on Thursday (Jan. 9).
The announcement from Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt was made on Wednesday night.
While most of the streets in Alexandria are relatively clear of snow, Alexandria City Public Schools announced that schools and offices will switch to asynchronous instruction tomorrow (Wednesday).
Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said the announcement is the result of concerns about safety for staff and students.
A snow day yesterday forced the Alexandria School Board to make its induction ceremony virtual, something School Board Chair Michelle Rief said typifies the way the Board has to adapt to crises.
“I’m disappointed it has to be virtual, but to new members it’s a befitting introduction to the life of a School Board member,” Rief said. “We often have to roll with the punches and have a Plan B.”
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) reopening will be delayed by yet another day with tomorrow (Tuesday) being another snow day.
In a message to ACPS families and staff, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said tomorrow will be a traditional snow day with no virtual learning.
Students won’t be doing virtual learning tomorrow: it will be a traditional, no-school, honest-to-goodness snow day.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) just announced at noon today (Sunday) that, due to anticipated snowfall tonight, there will be no school on Monday.
Alexandria kids with new smart watches won’t be able to wear them when they get back to school from winter break.
The School Board recently approved tightened guidelines on the use of wireless connected personal mobile devices within schools. The Board essentially banned cell phone and tablet use at the beginning of this school year, and the new regulations align more closely with a July executive order from Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
