ACPS | ALXnow - Part 34

ACPS Superintendent Hutchings focuses on racial equity in first-ever ‘State Of The Schools’ speech

Published March 2, 2022 at 1:15PM

The hour-long presentation at Alexandria City High School focused on new programs to offer free associate degrees to Alexandria City High School graduates, improving graduation rates for Hispanic males and sticking to the ACPS 2025 Equity For All Strategic Plan. The speech did not focus on more controversial issues, such as Covid-related mandates or public safety issues within the school system.

“Our strategic plan takes us through 2025 and I know it sounds like it’s far away, but we’re already in 2022,” Hutchings said. “And we will still have much to accomplish to fulfill all of these accomplishments.”

News

Face masks now optional for students at Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum

Published March 1, 2022 at 1:15PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools told students in today’s morning announcements to respect the decisions of their peers who choose to not wear face masks in schools or on buses.

Senate Bill 739 went into effect today, allowing for Virginia parents to elect to opt their children out of mask wearing — reversing course on a rule that has been in effect since the beginning days of the pandemic in 2020.

News

Alexandria School Board drops mask requirement for students

By Vernon Miles

Published February 25, 2022 at 2:30PM

The Alexandria School Board has overturned ordinance requiring face masks for students in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), yielding to newly passed state requirements.

The vote was, in some ways, an empty gesture. The bill signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin requires that public schools treat masks as optional for students, with no punishment for students who either choose to wear a mask or choose not to.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published February 22, 2022 at 5:00AM

Walking in Old Town on President's Day, Feb. 21, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria teen shot to death in D.C. — “According to a news release from D.C. police, officers responded to reports of a shooting in the unit block of Chesapeake Street in Southeast D.C. around 8:09 p.m., where they located Francis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a parked car.” [Alex Times]

Alexandria Schools start ‘Test to Stay’ program — “The new program will allow some students to return to school following five days of quarantine under a variety of conditions.” [Alexandria Living]

News

Alexandria City Public Schools announces special meeting to discuss mask requirements

By Vernon Miles

Published February 17, 2022 at 10:50AM

Masks have been an ever-present feature of schools since students returned to in-person learning last year, but new state legislation is forcing Alexandria City Public Schools to prepare for mask-less students and faculty.

A new meeting announced via email indicates the Alexandria City School Board will be taking up the discussion of the current mask requirement.

News

ACPS Superintendent: ‘It is very hard to do recruitment at a time like this’

By James Cullum

Published February 7, 2022 at 2:15PM

It’s not the easiest time to recruit teachers. That was the gist of last week’s staff update to the Alexandria School Board.

“It is very hard to do recruitment in a time like this,” Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. told the Board. “Where you’re trying to recruit people into an organization who, one: can’t come and do a tour of the building; two: our new teachers who are just graduating or will be graduating this May. They’re wondering kind of what the state of education is all about.”

News

Lyles-Crouch crossing guard, on the job for 50 years, to be honored later this week by ACPS

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2022 at 1:15PM

Crossing guard Cora Reed, photo via ACPS

For 50 years, crossing guard Cora Reed has helped students get safety to Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy (LCTA). Later this week, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is hosting a ceremony to honor her work.

ACPS said the meeting will include presenting Reed with a certificate from a statewide program.

News

Middle School teacher’s Amazon wish list disappears, but ACPS says it still wants donations

By James Cullum

Published February 4, 2022 at 10:00AM | Updated April 29, 2022 at 1:12PM

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

(Updated on April 29) Headsets with microphones, recycling bins and Play Doh were among the items that a George Washington Middle School teacher recently put on her school-wide Amazon wish list.

The teacher went around and asked her colleagues what they needed and put their requests on the list, which was taken down after ALXnow sent questions about it to Alexandria City Public Schools.

News

ACPS on a recruitment drive in the face of staffing shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2022 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is going through what it’s calling a “challenging recruitment year”.

In a memo to the School Board for their meeting on Thursday (Feb. 3), Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., said ACPS is stepping up the number of career fairs to try and drive up recruitment.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2022 at 3:30PM

Busy week with big things afoot in Alexandria.

Plans for the GenOn power plant and the redevelopment of Minnie Howard are moving forward through the city review process, with both projects working out the details on how to make them more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.

News

ACPS Superintendent Hutchings co-writing a book, will teach at Georgetown University

By James Cullum

Published January 21, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated January 24, 2022 at 1:43PM

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. is co-authoring a book on educational leadership and will start teaching as an adjunct professor next fall and spring at Georgetown University, according to a memo that was sent to the School Board last week.

Last fall, the Board approved Hutchings’ request to write the book on public school equity with Georgetown University professor Douglas Reed. The Board also approved Hutchings’ request to teach at Howard University and the University of Southern California, although those plans have changed. Hutchings will instead teach at Georgetown University this fall and next spring, and the change is what prompted the Board to reconsider (and unanimously approve) his updated request.