Important Updates Regarding ACHS Safety & Security

December 20, 2024

Dear Alexandria City High School Families and Staff,

Over the past several days, our school community has experienced significant challenges that have shaken our sense of safety and impacted our ability to provide a focused learning environment for our students. I want to acknowledge these concerns directly and assure you that we are fully committed to creating the safe, supportive and high-quality academic environment our students deserve. I also want to apologize for the disruptions and anxiety these incidents have caused. Together, we can and will do better.

When school resumes on January 6, 2025, we will use this opportunity to start fresh. In order to ensure that our students feel welcomed, supported and safe, additional Central Office staff will be present at both the King Street and Minnie Howard campuses. Their presence, along with our dedicated school-based staff, will help us facilitate a positive re-entry experience for our students after Winter Break. In addition, there will be various changes that will be implemented at Alexandria City High School (ACHS) that we have diligently worked on planning over the past two days that I will share with you in this letter. 

As promised in my previous letter, I am providing updates on the following topics to the ACHS School Community:

• Addressing Disruptive and Violent Student Behavior
• School Safety and Security
• Student Interventions and Supports 

Addressing Disruptive and Violent Student Behavior
We must be clear: We will not tolerate disruptive and violent behavior in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). Students who engage in such behavior will face immediate and significant consequences in accordance with the ACPS Student Code of Conduct, up to and including placement in an alternative educational setting or expulsion, in order to ensure the safety of students and staff.

In some cases, there may also be legal consequences, and when that is the case, we will work with the Alexandria Police Department (APD) on any law enforcement investigations. While we cannot discuss disciplinary measures regarding specific students with the community, due to ACPS’ obligations under state and federal laws governing student privacy, please be assured that we will continue to enforce the ACPS Student Code of Conduct consistently and fairly.

School Safety and Security
To strengthen our security measures, we are completing a review and update of security measures that includes the following:

• Additional Security Personnel: We are adding additional School Security Officers (SSOs) at Alexandria City High School (ACHS) to provide extra coverage and support.
• Changes and Updates to Our Security Protocols: We are reviewing our current security protocols—including camera positioning, weapons abatement screening process, etc. If adjustments are needed, they will be made to support improved security.
• Hall Sweeps and Duty Stations: We will conduct increased hall sweeps at both campuses. Additionally, staff will be assigned duty stations in high-volume areas to maintain a visible, supportive presence.
• Elevated Lunch Supervision: Lunch blocks will have increased oversight, including the use of MINGA ID check-ins and control access to meal areas.
• Staggered Dismissal and Transition Process: The staggered dismissal process currently in place will continue, along with additional detention sessions during lunch and after school to hold students accountable for infractions.
• Staff Hallway Monitoring: Our staff has worked with the ACHS administration team and has agreed to contribute portions of their planning time to provide additional monitoring and support during high traffic times, and as needed.
• Student Movement Compliance: There will be no tolerance for students that are found to not be in their assigned location, and disciplinary actions will be imposed.

Student Interventions and Supports
We will provide intensified support to students while at school. Additionally, we will work with the City of Alexandria to provide resources and supports to students and families. We are focusing more intently on the underlying issues that lead to these incidents by offering comprehensive social-emotional supports as a means of prevention:

• Review Disciplinary Process: We will review and improve our disciplinary process to ensure consistent, fair and standardized disciplinary practices across all campuses. This change will ensure that each disciplinary infraction leads to a clearly defined consequence. Per the School Board’s request, we have also begun reviewing relevant policies, specifically School Board Policy JGD/JGE Student Suspension/Expulsion.
• Targeted Family Meetings: We will expand our efforts to identify and meet with families of students who have academic, behavioral and attendance needs. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework, developing Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) that focus on career and academic planning as part of all student reentry meetings, and connect families to comprehensive services in partnership with the City of Alexandria. 
• Behavioral Expectations and Clarity: When students return on January 6, 2025, we will reiterate behavioral expectations in multiple ways to ensure our students fully understand what is expected of them and the consequences for failing to meet those expectations. This will include assemblies and social-emotional learning lessons. 
• Frequent Check-Ins: We will determine meeting frequency with students and their families to consistently monitor progress, provide additional resources and ensure accountability.
• Focused Community Partnerships: We will seek the help of local organizations to provide additional enrichment activities—arts, sports, job training—and academic tutoring, either in-person or online.
• Implementation of Revised Cell Phone Regulation: The revised, adopted Student Use of Personal Mobile Devices Regulation IIBEA-R3 will go into effect after Winter Break. 
• Student Leadership Social Media Campaign: Student leaders will be engaged to promote a social media campaign that will stress the importance of positive behaviors and a safe and welcoming school environment.

Weekly Monitoring of Additional Safety Measures: The ACHS Administration will conduct weekly monitoring sessions to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures and adjust accordingly. This monitoring will take place for the remainder of the school year.

Moving Forward Together
This has become an inflection point—a moment to reflect, reset and strengthen our commitment to each other and to the core values that guide our work as educators and as a community. I firmly believe that if we come together—students, staff, families and community members—we will rise above these challenges and restore a calm, respectful and vibrant learning environment for all of our students where they feel valued, respected and ready to thrive.

Thank you for your partnership, your patience and your resilience. We look forward to welcoming back all of our students and staff on January 6, 2025, to continue our school year and enjoy all that our schools have to offer our community. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt
Superintendent
Alexandria City Public Schools