Alexandria School Board holds first 2026 meeting
Superintendent recognized as District of Distinction finalist; board enters closed session to discuss personnel, legal matters
The Alexandria City School Board conducted routine business at its first meeting of 2026, Thursday evening, approving committee assignments and consent calendar items while hearing from community members on topics ranging from disability accommodations to staffing concerns.
Board approves assignments
The board unanimously approved updated committee assignments for members Kelly Carmichael Booz, and Alexander Crider Scioscia.
Consent calendar
The board approved seven policy and regulation revisions on the consent calendar, including updates to harassment investigation procedures for staff and students, school bus safety rules and outside employment disclosure requirements for certain staff members. The superintendent will approve the regulation revisions.
Additional policy revisions were presented for information and are proposed for adoption at the Jan. 22 meeting:
AD: Educational Philosophy of Alexandria City Public Schools
AE: School Division Goals and Objectives
GAD: Access to Employee Social Media Accounts
IICB/IICC: Community Resource Persons/School Volunteers
IKE-R2: Regulations for Placement of Home Schooled Students
Superintendent highlights district recognition
Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt announced that Alexandria City Public Schools is a national finalist for the District of Distinction award for its Pathways program.
“This award really honors kind of pioneering programs that serve as inspirational models for other school divisions,” Kay-Wyatt said.
She recognized ACHS football coach Rodney Huey as the fall coach of the year after leading the team to one of its best starts in more than 30 years. Forty-one ACHS DECA students earned first- or second-place finishes at a December district leadership conference and qualified for the state competition.
Committee updates
Board member Donna Kenley reported on five items from the Operational Excellence Committee:
The Office of Communication will provide updates later this month on renaming four school areas approved Dec. 18.
The new school board website will launch Jan. 15.
Kenley and Board Chair Michelle Rief have selected dates for customized board training through the Virginia School Board Association.
The committee is developing a self-evaluation survey to assess the board’s effectiveness in setting policy, managing the budget and evaluating the superintendent. Kenley said she hopes to complete it by year’s end.
The board planned to conduct a mid-year conference with Kay-Wyatt to review her progress from July to December 2025 and establish areas of focus through June 2026. Kenley said the superintendent’s presentation would include “measurements, evidence, artifacts and key performance indicators.”
Title I funding for private schools
Chief Academic Officer Paret Finney presented an application to allocate $43,347 in federal Title I funds to eight private schools: Al-Qalam Academy, Basilica School of Saint Mary, Queen of Apostles School, St. Anthony of Padua School, St. Michael Catholic School, St. Rita Catholic School, St. Thomas More Cathedral School and Washington International Academy.
The funding comes from unused federal Bypass provisions, a now-discontinued program under which the U.S. Department of Education provided Title I services directly to private schools. The application requires board approval and is due to the Virginia Department of Education by Jan. 23.
Public comments
Three members of the Barron family addressed the board about their experiences with medical 504 accommodations.
Kelly Conlon Barron said her daughter, a junior at ACHS with a seizure disorder, still lacks a complete 504 plan despite meetings since August. The plan expired in October, she said.
Sinead Barron, the student, told the board she has “been told with consistency I am a danger to the community” and described testifying before the Virginia General Assembly at 15 to advocate for herself.
Bridget Barron, an ACPS graduate and Sinead’s sister, described her own experiences with Health Services dating to elementary school.
“Health Services taught me, everyone around me and everyone like me all my life, that we don’t matter, we’re a burden and we don’t deserve safety and dignity,” she said.
Separately, Ahmadullah Azimi asked the board to renew the contract of Naja Nori, coordinator for Afghan students at Francis C. Hammond Middle School, which is set to expire in August.
The board did not respond to public comments during the meeting, following standard protocol.
Board announcements
Tim Beatty encouraged community members to consider mentoring through the Campagna Center, describing his experience working with a sixth-grader at George Washington Middle School.
“It’s a great program,” Beatty said. “Once the connection is made and the program starts, it’s terrific.”
Board member Abdulahi Abdalla, who participated remotely while caring for a new puppy, presented a trophy to Rief for winning a fantasy football league between school board and city council members. Board member Ryan Reyna finished second.
“As the official first loser, I would like to congratulate Chair Rief on her win,” Reyna said. “Chair Rief dominated my team in the finals.”
Rief’s team was named “Show Me the Money.”
“I may have had a little help from my son, who’s 12 and really into football,” Rief said.
Scioscia asked to see Abdalla’s puppy, a four-month-old named Evie, prompting a brief show-and-tell.
Closed session
The board entered closed session to discuss a change order for the Alexandria City High School Cistern Project, personnel matters related to a specific employee’s performance, and legal matters involving student records. The motion included a provision to exclude the superintendent from a portion of the session.
What’s next
Student representatives announced upcoming events including a Career Pathways Expo on Jan. 12, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria deadline on Jan. 14 and a poetry slam on Jan. 15.
The board’s next meeting on Jan. 22 will feature Kay-Wyatt’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.