The Alexandria Brief | Wednesday, Aug. 26

Good morning, Alexandria.

ACPS improved on every state test last year and now passes history at a higher rate than Virginia — though the biggest math gain came alongside 45% fewer students taking that test, a shift the division traces to a course-sequencing change. A joint committee leaned toward four-year School Board terms Tuesday night. And a truck pulled the power lines off Harris Teeter at Foxchase, starting a fire that burned for an hour before crews could touch it.

In brief: the city is intervening in the Dominion sale, the School Board meets Thursday on superintendent candidates, and VRE will run a modified schedule during October's Amtrak shutdown.

Here's what you need to know for Wednesday, Aug. 26.

1️⃣ Alexandria improved on every state test and moved ahead of Virginia in one subject

Alexandria students passed at higher rates in all four SOL subjects last year, and in history the division now beats the state outright. History jumped 9.3 points, to 71.2% — nearly three times Virginia's improvement in that subject, and a reversal after two years of trailing. Math rose almost 5 points while the statewide rate barely moved.

The rest of the picture is harder. Alexandria still sits 11 to 15 points behind Virginia in reading, math and science. Among third through eighth graders, 61.2% passed reading and 55.3% passed math; statewide it was 72% and 69%. The division points out, fairly, that it gained faster than the state in every subject — which is what closing a gap requires.

One number in the math results deserves a second look. Geometry pass rates leapt from 45.2% to 70.4%, but the number of students taking the test dropped 45%, from 909 to 496. That traces to a course-sequencing change ACPS made in 2024-25: fewer eighth graders are pushed into Algebra I, so a smaller cohort reaches Geometry. Statewide, Geometry enrollment went up about 5% over the same stretch. ACPS didn't say how much of the improvement it attributes to instruction versus who's now sitting for the test.

2️⃣ Council-School Board committee signals support for four-year terms

A joint city-schools committee met for the first time Tuesday night and came out of it agreeing on one thing: the School Board should probably move to four-year terms. Members go around the room rather than vote, and everybody voiced support. On staggered elections, the consensus was narrower — they agreed to keep talking about it, and take it up again in September along with board size.

The catch is the calendar. The committee exists because the board wants these changes in place for the 2027 election, and Councilman Canek Aguirre made clear he won't rush to hit it. "This process will take the time that it needs to," he said. A 2027 change would need agreement within two or three meetings, plus a public hearing, both governing bodies and the General Assembly — and because the standard route can't move that fast, it would take an emergency charter amendment.

That matters more than Tuesday's tone suggested. School Board member Kelly Carmichael Booz told me in April that this is effectively a one-shot window: miss 2027, and the clock restarts when a new board arrives in 2028. She didn't repeat it Tuesday, but she did say during the meeting that she'd like to move forward for 2027.

3️⃣ Truck strikes power lines behind Foxchase, sparking fire that burned dumpsters, a vehicle and fencing

A tractor-trailer delivering to the Harris Teeter at Foxchase Shopping Center caught an electrical service drop Tuesday and pulled the lines off the building, starting a fire that spread to several dumpsters, a vehicle and wooden fencing on the hill behind the center.

The lines stayed energized and kept arcing into whatever would burn, so firefighters had to wait. It took the power company about an hour to cut the electricity. Once it did, crews put the fire out quickly.

Nobody was hurt and no buildings were damaged. The fire department ruled it accidental. Police closed the alley behind the shopping center, between North Jordan and Duke streets, while crews worked.

In brief

The City of Alexandria said Tuesday it is intervening in the state regulatory review of NextEra Energy's proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy, joining Gov. Abigail Spanberger and others seeking a formal role in a case that will shape electric bills for Dominion's 2.7 million Virginia customers. (The Brief)

The Alexandria City School Board will meet in closed session Thursday to consider candidates to become the next superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools. (The Brief)

VRE will run a modified schedule during Amtrak's nine-day tunnel shutdown in October, Public Affairs Administrator Lindsey Martin said Tuesday, answering a question left open by Monday's announcement. (The Brief)

The City of Alexandria will hold a job fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, where department representatives and workforce development staff will meet with job seekers. (The Brief)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins said she spoke with more than 150 residents from Watergate and surrounding communities Monday night about the proposed Edsall Road data center and substation, and why the City Council is asking the Fairfax County Planning Commission to deny it. "Data centers do not belong this close to neighborhoods," she wrote on X. The commission holds its public hearing and vote Sept. 24. (Alyia4ALX/X)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday ordered Virginia agencies to step up efforts to prevent eligible residents from losing Medicaid and food assistance as sweeping federal changes are set to take effect next year.  (Virginia Mercury)

Sports

The Titans open the football season at 7 p.m. Friday against Lake Braddock at Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium, coming off a six-win playoff year under coach Rodney Hughey. The program went 0-10 in 2023. (The Brief)

Sonia Citron had 19 points and nine assists, Kiki Iriafen added 18 points and 10 rebounds for her 17th double-double of the season, and the Washington Mystics beat the Phoenix Mercury 94-84 on Tuesday night. (The Brief)

Hunter Goodman homered in his return from a shoulder injury, Mason Adams worked into the fifth inning in his big league debut, and the Colorado Rockies snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. (The Brief)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88 degrees. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72 degrees. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:32 a.m., sunset at 7:47 p.m. 13 hours & 15 minutes of sun.

High tide at 7:54 a.m. & 8:22 p.m. Low tide at 1:40 a.m. & 2:27 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

• 8 a.m.: 11th Annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit at George Mason University Mason Square
• 5 p.m.: Wine Tasting & Art Exhibit at Cameron Cafe
• 5 p.m.: Table Top Gaming Night With Cats at Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe & Wine Bar
• 5:30 p.m.: Del Ray Business Association's August Cocktails & Connections at Continues
• 6:30 p.m.: Sushi & Cider at Lost Boy Cider
• 7 p.m.: Murphy’s Run Club at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub

🎶 Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project at 9 p.m.
• Atlas Brew Works: Bingo at 7 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Pete Chauvette at 6 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Kenny Kohlhaas at 8:30 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• Southside 815: Rook Richards at 9:30 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

• City Government: Open
• Flag: Full Staff
• Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
• 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
• 9 a.m.: Walk-In Wednesday hiring event for Alexandria Police Department at Police Headquarters
• 11 a.m.: City of Alexandria job fair at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center
• 4 p.m.: Board of Equalization hearing at Banker's Square
• 4:30 p.m.: Warwick Pool open

📚 Alexandria Library

• All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
• 2 p.m.: 250th Film Festival — "West Side Story" at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
• 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 2 Workshop — Intermediate Conversation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
• 6 p.m.: Plant Swap at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
• 6 p.m.: Launching the Roman Space Telescope with NASA Solar System Ambassador Sigfried Hache at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 6 p.m.: Film Screening — "Blue Moon" at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library

⚾ Sports

DC Sports

• 6:45 p.m.: Colorado Rockies at Washington Nationals

ACHS Titans

• 3:15 p.m.: Golf (boys and girls) at Patriot, Prince William Golf Course
• 6 p.m.: Volleyball (girls) vs. Marshall
• 6:30 p.m.: Volleyball (boys) at Marshall
• Varsity only. Full schedule, including JV and freshman.

On this day in Alexandria's history

On Aug. 26, 1948, the Alexandria Citizens Band took first prize at the Virginia State Firemen's Convention. The band organized in 1912 and is one of the oldest community bands in the country — still all volunteers, still playing a summer concert series at Market Square and at community events around the city. (Historic Alexandria)

The Alexandria Brief

Alexandria news and information you won't find anywhere else

Publisher: Ryan Belmore. Send news, tips, and feedback to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.

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