Alexandria City School Board

Staff, families warn against budget cuts as Alexandria School Board seeks to fill $5.6M gap

Published May 13, 2026 at 2:45PM

The Alexandria City School Board at the budget public hearing on May 12, 2026 (via Alexandria City Public Schools)

Concerns about budget cuts focused on student-facing positions and health care premium increases were raised at an Alexandria City School Board public hearing Tuesday (May 12) as the board seeks ways to fill a $5.6 million gap.

City Council’s $979.1 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget, adopted April 29, did not fill the $5.6 million gap the school system needs to fund its proposed $12.7 million collective bargaining agreement. After City Council’s budget approval, ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented a revised budget to the School Board on May 7.

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Revised agreement with APD goes to School Board public hearing

By Emily Leayman

Published April 13, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated April 16, 2026 at 2:47PM

Alexandria Police at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. (staff photo by James Cullum)

A public hearing will be held Thursday (April 16) on the revised memorandum of understanding between the Alexandria City School Board and the Alexandria Police Department.

Alexandria City Public Schools is required to have an MOU with the police department due to the presence of school resource officers in schools, and it must be reviewed at least every two years. The proposed agreement would be in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028.

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City Council candidates address sheriff’s ICE policy, taxes, more at civic association forum

By Emily Leayman

Published April 9, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 4:47PM

(Left to right): Sandy Marks, Frank Fannon and Alison O'Connell participate in an April 8 forum hosted by the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations (via Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations video)

With less than two weeks until the April 21 special election, candidates for an open seat on Alexandria City Council made their pitches to civic association members yesterday (Wednesday) at a forum.

Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon joined the forum, held during Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations’ monthly meeting. Candidates answered questions on topics the civic association leaders selected, along with a lightning round of policies they would support or oppose.

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With 19,000 voters expected at school sites, April 21 student holiday approved at ACPS

By Emily Leayman

Published March 30, 2026 at 2:45PM

Voting at Douglas MacArthur School (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria City School Board approved April 21 as a student holiday as election officials anticipate high turnout for the special election at school-based polling sites. While students will be off, ACPS staff will have a work day.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt presented the School Board with the proposal last Thursday (March 26) after a discussion with Alexandria’s election officials. April 21 is the date of the special elections to decide a statewide mid-decade redistricting amendment for Virginia’s congressional districts and fill former Councilman R. Kirk McPike’s City Council seat following his election to Virginia’s 5th House District.

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NEW: ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to resign

By Emily Leayman

Published March 27, 2026 at 8:15AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at the Alexandria City Essential Workers Appreciation ceremony at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, March 19, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will resign on Oct. 1, the Alexandria City School Board announced Thursday night.

The announcement was made during Thursday night’s School Board meeting. Kay-Wyatt will continue in the role into the new school year as new school attendance boundaries are implemented at Alexandria City Public Schools.

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ACPS plans to make April election day a student holiday

By Katie Taranto

Published March 26, 2026 at 10:50AM

ACHS (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board is expected to approve a calendar revision that would make Virginia’s April 21 election date a student holiday.

Alexandria City Public Schools has recommended the School Board approve the item during tonight’s meeting (Thursday), as voters will be in school-based polling locations on Election Day.

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ACPS seeks to hire new Alexandria City High School principal by late May

By Emily Leayman

Published March 18, 2026 at 10:30AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools has started the process of selecting a new principal for its high school in time for the next school year.

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced a hiring process and timeline for the next principal of Alexandria City High School. A job posting was released on Monday, and a community survey to gather input will open today (Wednesday) through March 23.

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ACPS board member Booz visits Minneapolis to create ICE response resources for schools

By James Cullum

Published February 20, 2026 at 12:00PM | Updated February 20, 2026 at 4:59PM

Alexandria School Board Member Kelly Carmichael Booz in Minneapolis, Minnesota (courtesy image)

Alexandria City School Board member Kelly Carmichael Booz visited Minnesota last week as part of a project to inform educators on how to respond to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

Booz, who is from Minneapolis, visited the Twin Cities from Feb. 9-13, in the wake of the fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good and the widely reported drawdown of ICE agents there. Her project, a report for the American Federation of Teachers, aims to offer “resources and trainings” for school districts and unions on what to do when ICE enters their communities, she told ALXnow.

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ACPS board approves $406M budget, but uncertainty remains over city funding

By Emily Leayman

Published February 20, 2026 at 10:30AM | Updated February 20, 2026 at 10:49AM

Alexandria School Board meeting in 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City School Board approved the school division’s 2027 budget yesterday (Thursday), but challenges surrounding city funding and employee health care costs remain before the final version is adopted in June.

The bulk of the Alexandria City Public Schools’ $406.5 million combined funds budget includes the $374.5 million operating budget, as well as school nutrition funds, grants and a special projects fund. The operating budget itself is a 3.7% increase from the last budget.

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ACPS proposal to scale back Chinese and Latin language programs draw public concern

By Emily Leayman

Published February 10, 2026 at 3:30PM

Francis C. Hammond Middle School, Jan. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A proposal to scale back Chinese and Latin language classes at Alexandria City Public Schools have drawn public concern as school officials prepare to make funding decisions.

The Alexandria City School Board discussed a proposal that would remove two middle school Latin teachers and one Chinese teacher due to low enrollment during a Jan. 27 work session.

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Proposed $406M ACPS budget accounts for redistricting, collective bargaining

By Emily Leayman

Published January 23, 2026 at 11:15AM

ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt speaks at Mount Vernon Community School on Nov. 15, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Potential collective bargaining agreements and redrawn school boundaries were factored into the latest budget proposal presented to the Alexandria City School Board last night (Thursday).

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt proposed the $406.5 million combined funds budget for fiscal year 2027, a 3.7% increase from the last approved budget. The bulk of funds are in the $374.5 million operating budget, but it also includes school nutrition funds as well as grants and a special projects fund.