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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.


News

Welcome to Friday’s weekly roundup of our top stories.

With ALXnow, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news in Alexandria. This week, we focused on coverage of our local, state, and federal governments. We also reported a lot of crime, including a homicide in the city’s West End.


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The Alexandria City School Board has approved starting the naming process for three school facilities.

At its April 3 meeting, the board approved initiating the naming process for the Early Childhood Center courtyard, Naomi L. Brooks Media Center, and Parker-Gray Stadium field.


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What’s in a name? Everything.

The School Board will consider three naming requests for Alexandria City Public Schools facilities at its meeting on Thursday night (April 3). One request is to rename Alexandria City High School’s Parker-Gray Stadium Field after Keith Burns, a 1990 graduate of the school and 13-season NFL linebacker.


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On Wednesday morning (March 19), cheering children honored the people who actually make Alexandria run at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

The event honoring essential workers marked the culmination of the fourth annual Alexandria City Essential Workers Appreciation Week.


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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

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.


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