ACPS board member asks district to add snow days to future calendars after ice storm
Reyna cites virtual learning challenges for families; board also approves $360K in Hammond auditorium repairs
The Alexandria City School Board held its first regular meeting on Thursday since the worst ice storm in 30 years — and just hours after the district returned to normal operations, one board member asked leadership to consider adding snow days to future calendars.
Board member Ryan Reyna acknowledged the stress the storm placed on families, particularly those without the ability to work from home, during five consecutive days of virtual learning.
“We’ve heard from a lot of parents in this community that don’t have the luxury of working from home how challenging some of the virtual learning days were, let alone multiple days that can potentially result in lost wages or other challenges for them and their families,” Reyna said.
He asked the board to either hold a full discussion on adding snow days or refer the matter to the governance committee for review of the district’s calendar regulation. He suggested extending the school year beyond the 180-day state minimum to bank snow days, or adding flexibility around winter break.
The district’s current inclement weather policy states that the school year calendar does not allow for traditional snow days, and that staff and families should be prepared for virtual learning when schools close due to weather.
“Our teachers teach best, and our students learn best when they’re physically together in a classroom,” Reyna said, citing learning loss documented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chair Michelle Rief said she would work with Reyna to schedule the discussion for a future meeting.
Storm response
Earlier in the meeting, ACPS Chief of Staff Dr. Grace Taylor, filling in for Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, thanked city and school staff for their work clearing buildings and buses after the storm. She said 3 to 6 inches of ice covered more than 100 buses and vans at the district’s Wheeler and Eisenhower lots.
Taylor acknowledged that questions had been raised about the district’s reliance on virtual learning rather than snow days.
“Transitioning to virtual learning was made to prioritize the safety of our staff and students while ensuring high quality instruction continued without further disruption,” Taylor said.
She said the district considers several factors when making weather decisions: safety, the status of surrounding school divisions, preserving instructional momentum, graduation dates, summer break start dates and avoiding adding days to the end of the school year or reducing scheduled breaks.
Taylor noted that local historian and former principal John Porter said the last comparable storm was in 1996 or 1997.
Students were out of school buildings for 11 days — from Jan. 23 through Feb. 1 — due to a professional learning day, a teacher work day, and five consecutive days of virtual learning. Schools reopened on Tuesday and Wednesday with two-hour delays before returning to normal on Thursday.
Hammond auditorium repairs
The board approved a $360,455 change order for ceiling and lighting repairs at the Francis C. Hammond Middle School auditorium. The repairs stem from a spring 2024 incident in which ceiling tiles fell, according to a board memo.
The board in fiscal year 2025 approved $500,000 in capital improvement funds for the renovation. The initial proposal was quoted at $230,220, but demolition uncovered hidden structural damage, adding $31,485, according to the memo from Mira Kim, a project manager in ACPS Educational Facilities. A decision to add ceiling painting and replace 12 light fixtures while scaffolding was in place added another $98,750.
Board member Alexander Crider Scioscia said he was excited about the project.
“I am very excited for Hammond to have its auditorium back soon,” Scioscia said. “As I’m sure for the rest of this term, you all will hear me talk about the importance of the arts.”
Approval leaves about $139,545 for a second phase of renovations.
Other business
Staff presented updates on the Advancement via Individual Determination program, known as AVID, a college and career readiness initiative that has partnered with the district since 2009. The program is currently in place at one elementary school and all secondary and K-8 schools.
The board also reviewed proposed revisions to several policies, including those governing superintendent duties, viral infection protocols and administering medications to students. The revisions are proposed for adoption at the next meeting.
Dr. Donna Kenley, chair of the Operational Excellence Committee, reported that the board launched a new website on Jan. 16 — acpsschoolboard.com — focused on board-level work rather than district operations. She said a policy on school renaming is expected by the end of the year.
Rief announced a budget forum on Monday at 6 p.m. at Douglas MacArthur Elementary, sponsored by ACPS and the Alexandria PTA Council. Board members’ add/delete budget proposals are due Monday, with a work session scheduled for Feb. 17.
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Smart move by Reyna. The lost wages piece is what gets overlooked when districts default to virtual learning as the flexible solution. It works for white collar families but creates a different kind of disruption for hourly workers who can't just log in form home. Extending beyond 180 days would actually be cheaper than dealing with the equity fallout.