Alexandria City Public Schools

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.”

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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.

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PHOTOS: The George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published February 22, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated February 22, 2022 at 10:36AM

George and Martha Washington ride in the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 21, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The George Washington Birthday Parade returned to Alexandria on Monday after a two year hiatus. The streets of Old Town were lined with celebration for Washington’s 290th birthday.

Alexandria’s health care workers and first responders marched as parade grand marshals. The parade, which started at Gibbon and Fairfax Streets and snaked around City Hall, was attended by thousands. The event is the largest of its kind in the world honoring the founding father and first president.

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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]

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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.

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Alexandria School Board passes budget, asks City to fund 10.25% raise for all eligible staff

By James Cullum

Published February 14, 2022 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria School Board unanimously adopted Superintendent Gregory Hutchings’ $346 million fiscal year 2022 Combined Funds Budget last Thursday night.

The proposal, which was approved without discussion, is a nearly 4% increase ($9.3 million) over last year’s request from the City, and asks for approximately $248.7 million from the city to give employees a 2.6% salary step increase and a 2.5% market rate adjustment. The school system is banking on the hope that the city will endorse former Governor Ralph Northam’s proposal to raise teacher pay by 10.25% across the state.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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ACPS receives 88,000 KN95 masks after ignoring Governor Youngkin executive order

By James Cullum

Published January 21, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated January 21, 2022 at 2:50PM

Alexandria City Public Schools received 88,000 KN95 face masks for all students and staff last week, not long after newly installed Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order removing face mask mandates in public schools.

Alexandria, along with Arlington and Fairfax County, defied that order and are still requiring students, staff and visitors wear masks indoors. The Alexandria City High School athletic department has also reinstituted mask wearing during practices and competition.