school bus | ALXnow

Amid school board safety concerns over student transport, DASH says it doesn’t ‘expressly prohibit’ hiring sex offenders

Published September 23, 2025 at 5:52PM | Updated September 24, 2025 at 6:03PM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

UPDATE (Sept. 24, 2025): Following this reporting, DASH has placed both registered sex offenders on administrative leave. The transit agency said it is now assessing “the rigor of our recruitment standards” and confirmed that one of the employees is a bus driver, contradicting its initial statement Tuesday that no drivers were on the registry. DASH places 2 registered sex offenders on leave following ALXnow reporting

Following a discussion on the Alexandria School Board’s safety concerns about the proposal to transport Alexandria City High School students on DASH buses, ALXnow investigated the transit agency’s background check policies and discovered that it does not “expressly prohibit” sex offenders from employment.

News

Alexandria City Council, School Board to discuss DASH transition, collective bargaining, and more during joint meeting

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2025 at 1:30PM

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

The Alexandria City Council and School Board have several big-picture items up for discussion early next month.

On Monday, August 4, the Joint City Council/School Board Subcommittee will discuss a proposal to put Alexandria City High School kids on DASH buses starting in fall 2026, collective bargaining with ACPS staff, and the school system’s Long-Range Educational Facilities Plan.

News

Operation Warm and FedEx Cares provide new shoes to all 320 Cora Kelly students

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2025 at 11:30AM

Jhanelle Hollins with FedEx helps a student at Cora Kelly School try on a new pair of shoes, March 26, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

All 320 students at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology stepped into spring in brand new shoes on Wednesday (March 26).

For the second time this month, Operation Warm visited an Alexandria school to outfit hundreds of students with new shoes.

Opinion

Poll: Do you support using DASH instead of school buses to transport Alexandria high school students?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2025 at 1:50PM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 2:48PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

At a City Council meeting last week, City Council member Abdel Elnoubi and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley introduced a proposal that could change the way Alexandria City High School students get to school.

Elnoubi and Bagley, with the unanimous backing of the City Council, asked staff to explore the utilization of the DASH bus network to transport for high school students, eliminating the need for school buses at the high school level.

News

Alexandria City High School bus driver charged with Oxon Hill murder

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2024 at 9:45PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said in an alert to parents that a bus driver has been “placed on leave” effectively immediately after being charged with a murder.

ACPS said the bus driver in question is Carlas William Carter. Carter, 37, was arrested along with Alexandria resident Mary Ashby, 26, for the fatal shooting of Tamara Jones, 26, in Oxon Hill.

News

Alexandria City High School staggering student dismissal because of bus driver shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published September 5, 2024 at 3:45PM

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

Not long after warning families that the bus driver shortage will impact schools, Alexandria City Public Schools said it’s staggering student dismissal because of the driver shortage and schedule changes at the high school.

According to a letter from Alicia Hart, chief operating officer for Facilities and Operations at Alexandria City Public Schools, the school division will start having staggered student dismissal times for mid-day shuttle transportation at Alexandria City High School.

News

ACPS warns of bus route changes and late arrivals due to bus driver shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published August 15, 2024 at 9:55AM

School buses on W. Braddock Road on Dec. 10, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City Public Schools said school bus routes may be changing and students may be arriving at school late due to a shortage of bus drivers.

In a letter out to parents, MeChale’ Johnson, director of pupil transportation and fleet management, said ACPS is struggling to fill vacancies in transportation services and it will have an impact on students at the start of the 2024-2025 school year next Monday.

News

Mayor says fully funding ACPS budget request could mean ‘significant tax increase’ or reduction in city services

By James Cullum

Published February 23, 2024 at 1:20PM | Updated May 6, 2024 at 10:57AM

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

The Alexandria School Board approved its fiscal year 2025 $384.4 million combined funds budget request on Thursday night and it is asking City Council for $21 million more than the previous budget. If it goes forward, Mayor Justin Wilson says that the request could mean a reduction in city services.

School Board Members tacked on more than $10 million in additions to Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s proposed budget, a move that prompted Board Members Meagan Alderton and Chris Harris to vote in opposition to it.

News

ACPS faces budget shortfall and wants to give staff raises

By James Cullum

Published September 26, 2022 at 1:25PM

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

Alexandria City Public Schools is entering a tricky budget season.

As student enrollment and expenditure increases outpace revenue, ACPS faces a $12 million deficit in the run up to the fiscal year 2024 budget, according to a budget presentation to the School Board on Thursday, September 22.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 25, 2021 at 5:00AM

Local school systems face bus driver shortages, but say they’re ready to roll — “ACPS recognizes there is a national shortage of school bus drivers, making it challenging to recruit and fill bus driver positions. ACPS has about 90% of our drivers available and 100% of bus monitor positions filled…” [Alexandria Living]

Alexandria recommends cooling centers during heatwave — “The next few days are going to be hot and humid. The City offers several locations as options to those without cooling in their homes, including rec centers and libraries, as well as assistance for adults 60+ and some low-income households. Learn more at alexandriava.gov/122602.” [Twitter]

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published July 6, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated July 6, 2021 at 9:06AM

‘Ghost kitchen’ could be headed to Alexandria — “Commercial kitchens like the one proposed are also known as ghost kitchens and they allow restaurants and food entrepreneurs to prepare delivery orders. Ghost kitchens grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when many traditional restaurants were forced to close and the demand for take-out increased.” [Alexandria Living]

Face masks required at public and private schools until July 25 — “To address potential gaps in critical prevention measures at schools this summer, the State Health Commissioner, Dr. Norm Oliver, issued a Public Health Emergency Order effective July 1, requiring children and adults aged 5 and older to wear masks in public and private K-12 schools through July 25. The requirement applies to individuals regardless of vaccination status. The mask order also applies on school buses. Individuals are not required to wear masks when outside on school property, however the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommends that unvaccinated individuals aged two and older wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings.” [City of Alexandria]