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Alexandria City High School boosts internal security after fights prompt early winter closure

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

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.

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ACPS: Schools go to ‘asynchronous learning’ in Alexandria tomorrow

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

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.

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Alexandria School Board promises to ‘rebuild trust’ at virtual induction ceremony

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria School Board posing for a "Brady Bunch" style virtual picture (image via ACPS)

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.”

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JUST IN: ACPS announces second ‘traditional snow day’ on Tuesday

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

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.

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JUST IN: ACPS cancels school for ‘traditional snow day’ on Monday

By Vernon Miles
Snow at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

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.

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Smart watches banned in ACPS as School Board tightens grip on personal mobile devices

By James Cullum
People on smartphones (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

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.

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Here’s how ACPS plans to spend millions next year for renovations

By James Cullum
School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The School Board approved the Alexandria City Public Schools fiscal year 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Budget on Thursday (Dec. 19), and plans currently call for millions in non-capacity projects next year.

The Board voted 8-0 with one abstention in approving Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed $346 million CIP budget, which is $75 million (28%) more than what is currently approved by the city.

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School Board wants new Alexandria City High School athletic field complex named after former Mayor Kerry Donley

By James Cullum
Former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley (Via Living Legends of Alexandria)

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday unanimously directed the superintendent to start a naming process for the athletic field complex at Alexandria High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, and to consider naming it in honor of former Mayor Kerry Donley.

The field complex is under construction until summer 2025. It includes a synthetic turf field for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer, as well as basketball and futsol courts, bleachers and a walking path.

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Alexandria School Board orders conversions for Jefferson-Houston K-8 School and Patrick Henry Elementary School

By James Cullum

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 for a few years. That means that the strain at George Washington Middle School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School won’t be eased unless the Board takes an immediate action.

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ACPS superintendent defends sending high school to virtual learning after brawls

By James Cullum
Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School students will return from winter break to a safe learning environment with “additional supports,” Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt told the School Board Thursday night.

The comments were made in the wake of fights at Alexandria City High School‘s King Street campus on Wednesday that injured a student and knocked out a teacher. Two students were arrested and charged with assault and battery.

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