ACPS | ALXnow - Part 67

Morning Notes

Published March 23, 2020 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Hospital Suspends Visitation — “Exceptions to Inova Health System’s Visitation Guidance can be made in extenuating circumstances and with prior approval from a care site’s administration.” [Zebra]

Man Convicted for 2016 Rape — “[P]olice in Alexandria — for the first time — ran DNA through public genealogical databases and developed a family tree based on known DNA profiles, which pointed to Bjerke as a suspect. After Bjerke was arrested, a buccal swab of his DNA matched DNA found on the victim.” [WTOP]

News

COVID-19 Enters Community Spread Phase, Businesses and Residents Adapt

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated March 21, 2020 at 12:34AM

Alexandria has officially entered into the community spread phase of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dr. Rina Bansal, president of Inova Alexandria Hospital.

That means that direct exposure to the virus can not be traced back to its source.

News

Volunteer Alexandria Needs Help During COVID-19 Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated March 20, 2020 at 2:53PM

Packed lunches at T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School), March 16, 2020. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Volunteer Alexandria needs volunteers — mostly delivery drivers — to help the city’s nonprofits, school system and food banks during the COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down most of the city.

Volunteer Alexandria Executive Director Marion Brunken told ALXnow that about 100 volunteers registered over the course of last weekend. The volunteers are asked whether they have been exposed to the virus.

News

ACPS Giving Away Meals at These Five Locations Starting Monday

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated March 20, 2020 at 12:28PM

[Updated at 12:10 p.m.] Alexandria City Public Schools on Monday will start providing two days worth of free breakfast and lunch meals for any enrolled ACPS student on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and noon. at five new distribution points.

“Meals consist of cold breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and sandwiches for multiple days per the student’s need,” ACPS spokeswoman Julie Allen told ALXnow.

News

City Manager: COVID-19 Will Have Major Impact on City Budget, Capital Investments

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2020 at 4:30PM | Updated March 20, 2020 at 2:05AM

City Manager Mark Jinks says that his proposed fiscal year 2021 budget will be deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and predicts that proposed capital investments will take a hit.

“There will be notable changes in the budget, probably I would suspect capital investments,” Jinks told ALXnow. “We’ve got projects related to city facilities, school facilities that we could do differently. Maybe we talk to Arlington about how the Glebe Road Bridge could stay up as it is for another year. Maybe it can’t.”

News

ACPS Considering Closing for the Rest of School Year

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated March 19, 2020 at 12:56PM

Alexandria City Public Schools is working on multiple contingencies for the coronavirus pandemic, including closing until the end of the school year.

The school system is currently closed until the end of spring break, April 14.

News

Life-Changing: Alexandria Businesses React to Coronavirus

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2020 at 5:45PM | Updated March 20, 2020 at 9:22AM

Lower King Street on March 18, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

With only five reported cases in the city so far, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Alexandria residents, businesses and the city government.

There has been one reported instance of price gouging, with packages of 10 rolls of Charmin Ultra Soft toilet paper being sold for more than $60 at the Food Star at 206 W. Glebe Road.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2020 at 9:00AM

ACPS Releases Samples of Daily Schedules For Students — Alexandria City Public Schools, in their daily 1 p.m. update to parents, released sample daily schedules for students. The schedule includes time to wake up, taking a morning walk and three-and-a-half hours of academic time. [ACPS]

Alexandria Libraries Close Thru March 31 — “This was a difficult decision to make as we know how much people rely on their libraries to support their educational, entertainment, and recreational needs. However, libraries are a hub of community activity with some branches drawing hundreds of visitors per day.” [Alexandria Library]

News

ACPS Hands Out 5,000 Meals on First Day of Month-Long COVID-19 Shutdown

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2020 at 3:15PM | Updated March 17, 2020 at 6:36PM

Alexandria City Public Schools handed out 5,000 free meals on Monday — the first day of the system-wide shut down that is forcing nearly 16,000 students to stay home for a month.

Approximately 20 ACPS kitchen staff prepare the meals, which include breakfasts and lunches, in the T.C. cafeteria. Meals include milk, bagels, breakfast bars, fruit and vegetables, sandwiches and nonperishable items. Families are encouraged to take home up to a week’s worth of provisions to reduce trips, regardless of their eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.

News

Elevated Gymnasium Approved at Ferdinand T. Day School

By James Cullum

Published March 16, 2020 at 3:15PM

City Council approved an elevated gymnasium at Ferdinand T. Day School on Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Image via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria City Council on Saturday unanimously approved the construction of an elevated gymnasium at Ferdinand T. Day School in the West End.

“The gymnasium at Ferdinand T. Day looks cool,” Alexandria City Councilman Canek Aguirre said. “I’m excited to see that move forward.”

News

COVID-19 Update: ACPS Not Taking Attendance, Restaurant Considers Closing, Worshipping at Home

By James Cullum

Published March 16, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated March 20, 2020 at 10:22AM

The Alexandria City Public Schools will not be tracking student attendance for online learning during its month-long COVID-19 shutdown.

Alexandria City Public Schools announced on Friday that all schools would close until April 14 — after spring break. Every elementary school student was given instructional packets to take home, and students in grades 3-12 went home with Chromebook laptops.