Alexandria School Board | ALXnow

Students voice strong opposition to DASH bus proposal in survey results

Published September 19, 2025 at 5:31AM | Updated September 19, 2025 at 2:28PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Three out of five Alexandria City High School students oppose the city’s proposal to replace school buses with DASH public transit, student representatives told the school board Thursday.

A survey of 131 high school students found 60.3% oppose the proposal — with 37.4% strongly opposed and 22.9% moderately opposed. Only 26% support the plan, while 13.7% reported being indifferent, according to data presented by student representative Madesen Lynch during the representatives’ regular update to the board.

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School board to review $9,999 donation for male mentoring program

By James Cullum

Published September 17, 2025 at 11:30AM

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt talks about a proposed policy change on student publications at the May 8, 2025, School Board meeting (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria School Board will consider Thursday whether to accept a $9,999 donation from McLean-based Proxyware to support a male mentoring initiative at two city schools.

Alexandria City Public Schools received the $9,999 donation on Sept. 2 for programs at Patrick Henry K-8 School and Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 School. The board must approve any donations over $5,000.

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School board to discuss DASH bus proposal for ACHS students Thursday

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 10, 2025 at 2:15PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

The Alexandria City School Board will discuss a proposal on Thursday, Sept. 11, to transition Alexandria City High School students from school buses to the city’s DASH public transit system.

City Manager James F. Parajon recommends a phased approach starting in the 2026-27 school year, according to a June 20, 2025 memo to the City Council and School Board. The proposal comes after City Council members Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley directed staff in January to study using Alexandria’s public transit system for high school transportation.

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Notes: Alexandria School Board to meet Thursday for regular business session

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 19, 2025 at 7:59AM

The Alexandria School Board selected Michelle Rief as chair and Chris Harris as vice chair for the 2025-2026 school year on July 10, 2025 (via ACPS)

Good morning, Alexandria! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Aug. 19, the 231st day of 2025. There are 134 days left in the year.

🌧️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

School buses preparing at Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

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JUST IN: Alexandria School Board re-elects Michelle Rief as Chair for third term, names Christopher Harris Vice Chair

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 7:00PM

The Alexandria School Board selected Michelle Rief as chair and Chris Harris as vice chair for the 2025-2026 school year on July 10, 2025 (via ACPS)

Veteran School Board Members Michelle Rief and Christopher Harris were unanimously chosen Thursday night (July 10) to lead the Alexandria School Board for the 2025-2026 school year.

The unanimous vote at the Board’s organizational meeting means a third one-year term for Rief as chair, and a first term in leadership for Harris. Rief and Harris thanked their colleagues for their support and said that the upcoming year will be challenging.

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Alexandria School Board to name Chair and Vice Chair for 2025-2026 school year

By James Cullum

Published July 9, 2025 at 12:45PM

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

On Thursday (July 10), the Alexandria School Board will elect its chair and vice chair for the 2025-2026 school year.

Last month, current Vice Chair Kelly Carmichael Booz announced that she would not seek the vice chair or chair positions, leaving the question of her succession open. Rief is currently supported by several Board Members for reelection to a third term, according to sources.

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Here’s the 2025 ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

By James Cullum

Published June 25, 2025 at 2:15PM

Tony "Da Beast" Suggs (via Facebook)

Former pro boxer Tony “Da Beast” Suggs, former T.C. Williams High School principal John Porter, and the 1947 George Washington High School Baseball Team are heading to the hall of fame.

The Alexandria City Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame, that is. This year’s 16 inductees were approved for inclusion by the School Board on June 12, and the induction ceremony will take place on October 11.

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School Board Chair says Alexandria needs to figure out if single-principal model for Alexandria City High School is working

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2025 at 2:45PM

ACHS Principal Alexander Duncan III is presented with a plaque by School Board Chair Michelle Rief at the ACHS Minnie Howard Campus ribbon cutting, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria School Board Chair Michelle Rief responded today to the stinging letter from the PTSA of Alexandria City High School laying out “serious concerns” with Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and the school system’s central office.

While not naming Kay-Wyatt in the June 18 response, Rief wrote that the PTSA’s letter “rightly calls out the challenges that turnover can cause,” but listed several highlights from the school over the past year for context.

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Alexandria Police request to access ACPS student records taken off the table

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2025 at 12:30PM

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

The Alexandria Police Department (APD) has removed from consideration a controversial request that would have granted school resource officers direct access to student records, according to Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

Following the grilling of Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire by the City Council, the School Board unanimously voted last Thursday to extend the soon-to-expire two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between ACPS and the police. The six-month extension means that Alexandria City High School and the city’s middle schools will continue with their assigned school resource officers as is, while the details of the draft MOU are ironed out.

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Alexandria City High School PTSA has ‘serious concerns’ with Superintendent and ACPS Central Office

By James Cullum

Published June 16, 2025 at 1:00PM

The Alexandria City High School logo at the Earl Lloyd Court (staff photo by James Cullum)

The PTSA of Alexandria City High School has sent a letter to the School Board, conveying “serious concerns” that behavior from the school system’s central office is resulting in high turnover.

The June 16 letter follows the resignation of ACHS Executive Principal Alexander Duncan III, who announced his departure the day before the last day of school (June 12). The PTSA says that seven veteran principals have left the school system in the last two years, “two of whom left immediately after winning Principal of the Year accolades.”