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

By James Cullum
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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PHOTOS: Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum
Santa at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was an unseasonably warm 60 degrees on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 3) in Old Town for the Campagna Center’s 51st Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

The parade is one of the most popular events in the city, bringing thousands of participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. It is considered the highlight of a weekend full of events.

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

By James Cullum
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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ACPS to consider extending agreement for school resource officers until end of school year

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

Updated at 5:55 p.m. The Alexandria School Board on Friday (October 20) received a recommendation to extend its agreement with the Alexandria Police Department to provide school resource officers at the city’s high school and middle schools until  the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

The School Board will vote on the matter at its upcoming meeting on Thursday, November 10.

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With enrollment increase, Alexandria needs more middle school space

By James Cullum
Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria leaders agree that the city either needs to expand its aging middle schools or completely build a new one.

There are now 15,700 students within Alexandria City Public Schools, and roughy 2,000 more students are expected by 2024. That puts the city in a tricky position, as 10 ACPS schools are more than 70 years old and need continual maintenance, and a surge in elementary school kids means that Alexandria needs more middle school space.

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Virginia Attorney General Miyares to discuss school safety with Alexandria leaders

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

City leaders are arranging to meet Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares next month in response to an effort to curb violence within Alexandria City Public Schools.

The discussion with Mayor Justin Wilson, School Board Chair Meagan Alderton and interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt was initiated in August, when Miyares sent a letter offering the support of his office.

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Noah and Josephus Lyles presented key to city by Alexandria Mayor

By James Cullum
Mayor Justin Wilson presents springers Noah Lyles (middle) and brother Josephus with a commendation and the key to the City of Alexandria, October 10, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

World champion sprinters Noah and Josephus Lyles were born and raised in Alexandria, and now they’ve got the key to the city.

Last weekend, the brothers were inducted into the Alexandria City Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame, and on Monday night (October 10) they got a little extra. At a ceremony at Market Square, the pair were presented with the key and a commendation by Mayor Justin Wilson.

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Alexandria School Board asks City Council to reduce speed limits to 15 mph in school zones

By James Cullum
The scene of a crash outside Jefferson Houston Elementary School, March 29, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Things are about to slow down in school zones.

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday (October 6) unanimously approved a resolution requesting a reduction from 25 miles per hour to 15 mph in school zones.

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Alexandria School Board hires search firm, wants new superintendent to start work this spring

By James Cullum
ACPS headquarters and clock (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Alexandria School Board has chosen national search firm McPherson & Jacobson to find the next superintendent for Alexandria City Public Schools, and ideally wants the position filled by spring.

The firm accepted ACPS’s offer to conduct the search on September 29. The Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson was chosen from three candidates by a search committee made up of School Board Vice Chair Jacinta Greene and Board Members Abdel Elnoubi and Tammy Ignacio.

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ACPS Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt has a mantra

By James Cullum
ACPS interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt at the deed signing ceremony for the Winkler Botanical Preserve, September 15, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Melanie Kay-Wyatt says that she lives by one word — impact.

With just a month under her belt as interim superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, she’s got a mountain of responsibility to contend with, including managing the first days of the 2022-2023 school year, developing the school system’s upcoming budget, and forging relationships with city leaders.

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Police Chief: There are ‘crews’ of violent kids within Alexandria City Public Schools

By James Cullum
Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes speaks about school safety at Agenda Alexandria's meeting at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial on Monday, September 26, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools is has a “crew” problem — organized groups of kids that are participating in criminal behavior, according to Police Chief Don Hayes.

If the description sounds like a gang, there’s not much difference. Hayes says that the school system is also dealing with gang activity.

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