ACPS | ALXnow - Part 14

City Council discussion revives possibility of new Alexandria middle school

Published February 19, 2025 at 11:50AM

Students return to George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In the middle of an uproar over the planned elimination of Alexandria’s K-8 schools, a discussion at Alexandria’s City Council meeting last night (Tuesday) may have gotten the ball rolling for a new local middle school.

City Council member John Chapman asked, during a discussion of the Long-Range Planning Interdepartmental Work Program, whether the City could revisit Long Range Educational Facilities Plan — which spells out plans to improve facilities planning and accommodate the growing student population.

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Alexandria City Public Schools go virtual Wednesday due to snowstorm

By Vernon Miles

Published February 11, 2025 at 5:45PM

Francis C. Hammond Middle School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

School was closed for “traditional snow days” in January, but this month students aren’t so lucky as classes go to “synchronous learning” tomorrow.

According to a message send out by Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, all schools will implement synchronous virtual learning for students while staff will participate in a virtual workday due to snow.

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Alexandria Superintendent clarifies ACPS’ immigration stance

By Vernon Miles

Published February 11, 2025 at 4:05PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt made a small clarifying addendum to a message released last month about how the school division handles immigration concerns.

Last month, Kay-Wyatt sent a letter to community members saying all children have a right to attend ACPS schools regardless of the immigration status of the students or their families. Kay-Wyatt also noted, though, that ACPS “is obligated to comply with all lawful orders and warrants from any law enforcement entity, including ICE.”

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Alexandria Planning Commission adds to criticism of School Board’s controversial PreK-8 conversion decision

By Vernon Miles

Published February 11, 2025 at 3:05PM

Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School at 1501 Cameron Street (via Jefferson-Houston/Facebook)

Alexandria’s Planning Commission threw its voice behind criticisms that Alexandria City Public Schools dropped the ball on the recent K-8 and PreK-8 school conversions controversy.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously last week in support of a letter concerning the George Mason Elementary School Modernization project and the Pre-K-8 School Capacity Planning Project, both of which faced scrutiny for lapses in public engagement.

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Alexandria City Public Schools will have half-day on Tuesday ahead of winter storm

By Vernon Miles

Published February 10, 2025 at 5:30PM

Cora Kelly Elementary School, 3600 Commonwealth Avenue, on Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced that the schools will have a half-day so students and staff can return home before an anticipated winter storm.

In a message sent out at 5:25 p.m. today (Monday), Kay-Wyatt wrote that schools will dismiss around noon before the storm hits. It’s estimated Alexandria could see as much as 4-6 inches of snow.

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Alexandria City Public Schools announce two-hour delay Thursday morning

By Vernon Miles

Published February 5, 2025 at 8:40PM

Alexandria City High School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will have a two-hour delayed opening tomorrow (Thursday) morning on account of expected sleet and ice tonight and tomorrow morning.

All students will report two hours later than the regular opening time, though essential personnel are expected to arrive at the normal time “if it is safe to do so based on weather conditions” while non-essential personnel should report two hours later.

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Student injured by knife in fight during fire drill at Alexandria City High School

By James Cullum

Published January 29, 2025 at 7:00PM | Updated January 30, 2025 at 10:24AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Alexandria City High School student allegedly brandished a knife and injured a student in a fight on the school football field during a fire drill today (Jan. 29), according to a letter from the school’s principal to parents.

The Alexandria Police Department responded to the ACHS King Street campus at around 11:30 a.m. for report of a 14-year-old male student who was injured with a cut to his finger, according to dispatches.

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Mayor says Alexandria law enforcement won’t help ICE conduct immigration raids

By James Cullum

Published January 29, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated January 29, 2025 at 12:10PM

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins speaks after taking the oath of office, Jan. 2, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.”

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Alexandria Superintendent spells out ways ACPS can and can’t protect students from ICE

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2025 at 11:40AM | Updated February 11, 2025 at 4:02PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.

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Alexandria Superintendent proposes budget with higher pay for school staff and more security

By Vernon Miles

Published January 24, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated January 24, 2025 at 5:43PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt delivers her fiscal year 2026 Combined Funds Budget to the Alexandria School Board, Jan. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.

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ACPS superintendent to present budget this week after city asks to keep increase modest

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2025 at 11:30AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.