School Board | ALXnow

Alexandria budget pushes back against controversial Jefferson-Houston conversion

Published February 25, 2025 at 10:30PM

City Manager James Parajon presenting the FY 2026 budget (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria City Manager James Parajon presented the FY 2026 budget to City Council tonight (Tuesday) but one of the major items was something not included in the budget: the conversion of Jefferson-Houston K-8 School to a middle school.

The budget included $21 million to Alexandria City Public Schools in capital funding — funding devoted to major development projects in a capital budget. In a release, the City of Alexandria said the funding was in line with the funding level requested for FY 2026 in the School Board capital funding request.

News

ACPS safety report shows increase in fights but overall decrease in incidents

By Vernon Miles

Published February 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

Students get on school buses at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus (staff photo by James Cullum

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) data showed a decline in school safety incidents, but a notable uptick in fights/assaults.

The ACPS School Safety Data Review covers the first and second quarter of this 2024-2025 school year. Compared to the third and fourth quarters of last year incidents declined from 73 to 62, though that total still wasn’t as low as the first and second quarters from last school year at 57 incidents.

News

ACPS superintendent to present budget this week after city asks to keep increase modest

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2025 at 11:30AM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will unveil her fiscal year 2026 budget this week, and the city is asking the school division to keep the budget increase over last year’s budget modest.

In his budget presentation to the City Council in November, City Manager Jim Parajon outlined a 2%, or $5.5 million, combined funds budget increase for ACPS amounting to $278.5 million.

News

Alexandria School Board promises to ‘rebuild trust’ at virtual induction ceremony

By Vernon Miles

Published January 7, 2025 at 11:50AM

Alexandria School Board posing for a "Brady Bunch" style virtual picture (image via ACPS)

A snow day yesterday forced the Alexandria School Board to make its induction ceremony virtual, something School Board Chair Michelle Rief said typifies the way the Board has to adapt to crises.

“I’m disappointed it has to be virtual, but to new members it’s a befitting introduction to the life of a School Board member,” Rief said. “We often have to roll with the punches and have a Plan B.”

News

Smart watches banned in ACPS as School Board tightens grip on personal mobile devices

By James Cullum

Published December 31, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated December 31, 2024 at 1:50PM

People on smartphones (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria kids with new smart watches won’t be able to wear them when they get back to school from winter break.

The School Board recently approved tightened guidelines on the use of wireless connected personal mobile devices within schools. The Board essentially banned cell phone and tablet use at the beginning of this school year, and the new regulations align more closely with a July executive order from Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By ALXnow.com

Published December 27, 2024 at 2:36PM | Updated December 27, 2024 at 3:12PM

First Night Alexandria (via Visit Alexandria)

It’s been an interesting workweek in Alexandria, even with Christmas landing on Wednesday this year.

The week was still full of news.

News

Here’s how ACPS plans to spend millions next year for renovations

By James Cullum

Published December 23, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated December 23, 2024 at 7:05PM

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

The School Board approved the Alexandria City Public Schools fiscal year 2026-2035 Capital Improvement Budget on Thursday (Dec. 19), and plans currently call for millions in non-capacity projects next year.

The Board voted 8-0 with one abstention in approving Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed $346 million CIP budget, which is $75 million (28%) more than what is currently approved by the city.

News

School Board wants new Alexandria City High School athletic field complex named after former Mayor Kerry Donley

By James Cullum

Published December 23, 2024 at 11:30AM

Former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley (Via Living Legends of Alexandria)

The Alexandria School Board on Thursday unanimously directed the superintendent to start a naming process for the athletic field complex at Alexandria High School’s Minnie Howard Campus, and to consider naming it in honor of former Mayor Kerry Donley.

The field complex is under construction until summer 2025. It includes a synthetic turf field for lacrosse, field hockey and soccer, as well as basketball and futsol courts, bleachers and a walking path.

News

Alexandria School Board orders conversions for Jefferson-Houston K-8 School and Patrick Henry Elementary School

By James Cullum

Published December 20, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated December 20, 2024 at 1:47PM

Despite mixed community reaction, the Alexandria School Board voted to convert Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School into a middle school and Patrick Henry K-8 School into an elementary school.

Alexandria’s two middle schools are both well over 100% capacity, and as budgeted, the conversion of Jefferson-Houston won’t start for a few years. That means that the strain at George Washington Middle School and Francis C. Hammond Middle School won’t be eased unless the Board takes an immediate action.

News

ACPS superintendent defends sending high school to virtual learning after brawls

By James Cullum

Published December 20, 2024 at 8:30AM

Alexandria City High School (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School students will return from winter break to a safe learning environment with “additional supports,” Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt told the School Board Thursday night.

The comments were made in the wake of fights at Alexandria City High School‘s King Street campus on Wednesday that injured a student and knocked out a teacher. Two students were arrested and charged with assault and battery.

News

Don’t miss ALXnow’s photos of Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk weekend

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2024 at 11:15AM

Santa waves at the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Dec. 6, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was quite a weekend in Alexandria.

Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk weekend started Friday (Dec. 6), where hundreds attended the decadent annual Taste of Scotland fundraiser for the Campagna Center at The Atrium building in Old Town.