What are the solutions to the challenges in ACPS?

[Anonymous]

Is Chance for Change an actual alternative school? I feel like a good solution would be alternative education for students with severe emotional issues and a zero tolerance for violence of any kind. Those students would be expelled and referred to the criminal justice system and/or family court. Does ACPS have family or juvenile court officers working in the schools?

[Anonymous]

You will never get zero tolerance at ACPS. Restorative justice circles are the only way. When that didn't work for Hutchings kid he moved her to private.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, this is the direction that public education (and private) is headed. There is no way to turn the ship around. And there is no way Alexandria will every admit that this way doesn't work. Just like they ignore that ACHS is overcrowded and unsafe and we need another high school.

[Anonymous]

I truly think overcrowding exacerbates all of the underlying issues. Piling kids into old buildings without enough bathrooms or hallway space creates prison-like conditions and mindset, leading to fighting over basic space and needs. Lack of capital investment has consequences. The failure to build a second high school was an unconscionable decision with consequences for Alexandria children and the entire community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I truly think overcrowding exacerbates all of the underlying issues. Piling kids into old buildings without enough bathrooms or hallway space creates prison-like conditions and mindset, leading to fighting over basic space and needs. Lack of capital investment has consequences. The failure to build a second high school was an unconscionable decision with consequences for Alexandria children and the entire community.

For years, ACHS student reps to the SB say that they don't feel safe just based on numbers and the chaos that happens during fire drills. It falls on deaf ears. Look at the last decade of school board members - that is who should be held responsible.

You're right on capital investment and that goes back decades and is the fault of mayors and city councils who hold the purse strings on the CIP.

[Anonymous]

Overcrowding is a big issue. They really need to build another high school building. If they want all kids to go to one school. Then build a 9th grade building. Minnie howard can be 10 & 11 and then the main building 12th.

Also, they implement programs or curriculum changes and then they don't actually wait to see if they work. They use the first year of data and if there is not monumental progress well then they scrap it for another flavor of the year. They need to have a longer view of changes and wait until the have collected a few years data. But they also need to make sure they are using quality and vetted programs to begin with.

The schools need to be relieved of social service duties. Social services needs to take over that role and even co-locate in schools. That way the school can focus on academics and social services can focus on social services.

It would probably help if they expanded the use of the traditional curriculum from Lyles Crouch at more elementary schools.

William Ramsay elementary is a missed opportunity. The nature center is attached to the school. This presents an excellent opportunity to make it a science focus magnet school.