Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria teachers want smaller classes and bigger raises

Published January 23, 2023 at 3:30PM

ACPS teachers advocating at the January 19, 2023, School Board meeting (Courtesy photo)

Alexandria City Public School teachers are saying that the proposed salary and step increases aren’t enough.

Last Thursday, 15 ACPS teachers appeared before the School Board at its public hearing for Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s $359.9 million fiscal year 2024 combined funds budget proposal. Kay-Wyatt is proposing a 2.6% step increase and 2.5% market rate adjustment for eligible ACPS employees, and the 85% of the budget pays the salaries for 2,700 employees. She’s also proposing eliminating a step for employees on the pay scale.

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ACPS interim Superintendent aims to ‘reset, restart, and refocus’ school system with budget proposal

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2023 at 2:30PM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at an event for Noah and Josephus Lyles at Market Square, October 10, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt says her budget will help address some of the long-term effects of the pandemic.

Kay-Wyatt’s theme for the budget is to “reset, restart and refocus” the school system, and she says employee retention is crucial.

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ACPS considers making school resource officers into teachers and informal counselors

By James Cullum

Published December 19, 2022 at 2:55PM | Updated December 20, 2022 at 11:37AM

About 58% of Alexandria City Public Schools students feel safe in school, with bullying, gang activity and selling/using drugs topping a new list of concerns.

Consequently, ACPS is considering enhancing the role of its school resource officers to not only serve as law enforcement but as teachers and informal counselors.

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With construction costs rising, Alexandria School Board approves 10-year capital improvement plan

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2022 at 2:35PM

Swing space at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, via Google Maps

The Alexandria School Board approved its 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program budget on Thursday night, paving the way for construction of new schools, swing space and significant renovations over the next decade.

After a series of work sessions and public meetings this fall, the Board approved the $461 million proposal, with $58.7 million to be used next year.

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Alexandria School Board considering staggered terms, fewer members and eliminating districts

By James Cullum

Published December 14, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated December 15, 2022 at 2:25PM

ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated 4:15 p.m.) Are there too many Alexandria School Board Members? Should their terms be staggered and should districts be eliminated? The Board wants these questions answered by the time voters cast their ballots in November 2024.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the nine-person Board unanimously agreed to establish a process for asking the public these questions. The answers will inform a Board resolution that is expected to go before the Alexandria City Council next year and the Virginia General Assembly in 2024.

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Years of upheaval ahead as ACPS designs West End office building for elementary school swing space

By James Cullum

Published December 6, 2022 at 1:15PM

Swing space at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, via Google Maps

Students and parents are facing years upheaval in Alexandria’s West End, as the city’s school system is planning on completely rebuilding two elementary schools within the decade.

Alexandria City Public Schools plans to redesign an office building at 1703 N. Beauregard Street to be used as swing space while George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road) and Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology (3600 Commonwealth Avenue) are completely rebuilt.

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Mayor: Alexandria seeing ‘anemic growth’ in tax revenues with budget shortfall ahead

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated December 1, 2022 at 4:15PM

Money on a table (staff photo via Vernon Miles/ALXnow)

Alexandria’s revenue tax is growing, but too sluggishly to keep pace with the expenditures — leading to a $17 million shortfall as the city heads into budget season.

That estimate, from Mayor Justin Wilson’s monthly newsletter, is slightly lower than the estimate from a City Council meeting in November, but still presents a substantial challenge for city leadership attempting hold off on a tax rate increase.

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Alexandria City Public Schools is prepping a collective bargaining proposal

By James Cullum

Published November 30, 2022 at 2:15PM

Alexandria City Public Schools is in the initial stages of organizing a collective bargaining effort for thousands of its employees.

The school system has more than 2,400 employees and pays $11.6 million in salaries, with funds approved by the City Council. That means that any agreement reached between ACPS staffers and the school system will have to be approved by Council.

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Alexandria City Council will consider raising taxes in upcoming budget

By James Cullum

Published November 23, 2022 at 11:30AM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Facing inflation, a $17 million budget shortfall and fewer federal economic recovery funds, the Alexandria City Council will consider a tax increase in its upcoming fiscal year 2024 budget.

City Manager Jim Parajon has been tasked with presenting Council with two budget alternatives — one with a tax increase and another without.

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ACPS: Millions needed for upcoming capital projects due to cost increases

By James Cullum

Published November 16, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 11:10PM

George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Construction and other capital improvement costs for next fiscal year have increased for Alexandria City Public Schools by millions.

More than $14 million out of the $24 million in cost increases for new and existing capital improvement projects is due to supply chain issues and cost escalations, ACPS staff reported in a presentation to the School Board on Monday (Nov. 14).

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Alexandria leaders say police needed for safe schools, after visit by Attorney General Miyares

By James Cullum

Published November 8, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 10:48PM

(Left to right) ACPS Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Mayor Justin Wilson, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, ACHS senior Elizabeth Lane and School Board Chair Jacinta Greene at the high school, Nov. 7, 2022 (via Twitter)

After a back-and-forth with city leadership on school safety, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares got a quick tour of Alexandria City High School from the city’s leaders on Monday (Nov. 7).

Miyares toured the school, met with students and city leaders, ate lunch and discussed school safety.