Ashley Simpson Baird

City Council considers special committee to discuss School Board election reform, more ACPS funds

Published May 27, 2026 at 12:30PM

Alexandria City Council on May 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Council took a step Tuesday (May 26) to consider changes to the School Board’s terms and the size of the nine-member board. The council is also considering using potential contingent funds that will be available in the new fiscal year to fund Community in Schools of Northern Virginia at Alexandria City Public Schools.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins received support from a majority of City Council members on the proposal to form an ad hoc committee on election reform. City Council’s request will direct City Manager Jim Parajon to prepare a resolution to create the committee that two City Council members would be in. Gaskins said the committee’s scope would allow it to look at staggered terms and other election reform items such as board size, timing of terms or representation. The two City Council members would work with two School Board members to bring forward election reform recommendations.

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Alexandria School Board members push City Council for staggered term reforms

By James Cullum

Published April 20, 2026 at 12:15PM | Updated April 20, 2026 at 5:29PM

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

Alexandria City School Board members are asking the public to help push for reforms to the nine-member board, including staggered elections, higher salaries and more.

The clock is ticking, School Board Members Ashley Simpson Baird and Kelly Carmichael Booz wrote in a recent blog post. The pair wrote that City Council must act this year by beginning a process to amend the City Charter — a change that would need to go to the Virginia General Assembly’s 2027 session for approval.

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Alexandria City High School debuts renovated TV and media production studio

By James Cullum

Published December 15, 2025 at 11:45AM

As seen at the opening of the new Alexandria City High School TV production studio, Dec. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s something different, a little more polished, about the morning announcements at Alexandria City High School these days.

Students and Alexandria City Public Schools leadership were on-hand last Friday for the opening of the newly renovated television studio for ACHS’ TV and Media Production class. With top notch equipment to boot, the new studio looks like something out of CNN, offering students real-world experience in television production, including directing, operating cameras and creating educational content.

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ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism

By James Cullum

Published May 2, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated May 5, 2025 at 2:13AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board.

From reporting on a transportation controversy to investigations into the School Board, transgender policies, or even lampooning metal detectors in cartoons, Theogony student journalists take their roles seriously. Now, with City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.