School Board | ALXnow

ACPS to consider prohibiting second jobs for administrators after employee’s dismissal

Published January 7, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Alexandria City School Board will meet on Jan. 8. (via Alexandria City School Board)

After a now-fired Alexandria City Public Schools administrator was found with a second job, the Alexandria City School Board is considering updates to its second job policy.

On Thursday, the School Board will review a policy update for employees' additional jobs beyond their school district employment. The proposed addition calls for no second jobs for ACPS chiefs, executive directors or directors unless the superintendent gives approval. It would apply for second jobs with an average of 10 hours per week for at least a month.

News

Advocates support proposal for new ACPS subcommittee focused on capacity challenges

By James Cullum

Published December 15, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated December 15, 2025 at 7:41PM

Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School at 1501 Cameron Street (via Jefferson-Houston/Facebook)

A proposal to create a new City Council/School Board subcommittee focused on Alexandria City Public Schools’ capacity challenges has won the support of a local advocacy group.

Save Jefferson-Houston (Save JH), which opposes the Alexandria City School Board’s plans to convert two K-8 schools into a middle school and elementary school, has voiced support for the proposal, which was offered by ACSB members Ryan Reyna and Kelly Carmichael Booz during a Capital Improvement Program work session last week.

Around Town

PHOTOS: Don’t miss ALXnow’s coverage of the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

By James Cullum

Published December 8, 2025 at 10:30AM

The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums marches at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a day for a parade it was in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The wailing of bagpipes sailed through Alexandria’s historic streets as thousands of community members gathered to watch the 54th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

News

Metro chase death, hidden bathroom camera, homicide arrests lead this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 3, 2025 at 3:30PM

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria. Here’s a look at the top stories of the week.

ALXnow’s top story this week is on the man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on September 22 and later died at George Washington University Hospital. Metro Transit Police stated at the time that the man had trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation revealed that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders: a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

News

Alexandria School Board sets budget planning session for Thursday

By James Cullum and Ryan Belmore

Published September 22, 2025 at 12:30PM | Updated September 23, 2025 at 11:14AM

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

The Alexandria School Board will hold a budget planning session Thursday evening to begin crafting the fiscal 2027 spending plan amid uncertainty over potential federal funding cuts.

The meeting, scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m., will feature ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt launching the budget process with the School Board. The session will lay the groundwork for releasing her proposed 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program budget in November, the draft Combined Funds Budget in January, and final budget adoption in June.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

HVAC issues force cancellation of Joint City Council / School Board Subcommittee Meeting

By Ryan Belmore

Published June 23, 2025 at 2:00PM

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

A joint meeting between the Alexandria City Council and School Board members scheduled for Monday evening was abruptly canceled due to mechanical problems at the ACPS Central Office building.

The City of Alexandria announced the cancellation Monday afternoon, citing “issues with the HVAC system” at the Alexandria City Public Schools headquarters where the 5 p.m. subcommittee meeting was set to take place.

News

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.

News

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.”