Archive for 'Schools'

Officials break ground on new Jefferson-Houston

Officials break ground on new Jefferson-Houston

By Melissa Quinn Alexandria officials broke ground on the new Jefferson-Houston School on Tuesday, confident the state-of-the-art building will ease capacity woes plaguing the district. Jefferson-Houston, with a student body of 361, has faced low enrollment [...]

Titans limping into playoffs

Titans limping into playoffs

By Jim McElhatton One player suffered a concussion. Another had a torn tendon. Then there were all sorts of illnesses that kept various T.C. Williams boys lacrosse players sidelined for games this season: bronchitis, strep throat [...]

School board sends budget back to Alexandria city council

School board sends budget back to Alexandria city council

By Melissa Quinn Alexandria City Public Schools officials approved the combined funds budget for fiscal 2014 last month, taking into account City Manager Rashad Young’s $3 million proposed reduction. The $226.4 million operating budget is less [...]

ACPS mulls ditching enrollment lottery for focus programs

ACPS mulls ditching enrollment lottery for focus programs

By Melissa Quinn  Alexandria City Public Schools staff contemplated ending the lottery system for focus programs during a board meeting April 11, but members expressed reservations about the change. Families can apply for focus programs through [...]

Lawmakers hope to prevent Richmond from intervening at Jefferson-Houston

Lawmakers hope to prevent Richmond from intervening at Jefferson-Houston

By Melissa Quinn Legislators rejected Gov. Bob McDonnell’s tweaks to a bill creating the Opportunity Educational Institution, which could lead to a state takeover of Jefferson-Houston, during the General Assembly’s veto session earlier this month. McDonnell’s [...]

Richmond poised to intervene in local schools

Richmond poised to intervene in local schools

By Melissa Quinn After weeks of anticipation — particularly in Alexandria — Gov. Bob McDonnell has amended his Opportunity Educational Institution proposal, putting the possibility of the state taking over failing schools one step closer to [...]

T.C. Williams cycling club picks up speed

T.C. Williams cycling club picks up speed

By Jim McElhatton Long before T.C. Williams senior Alex Wolz was born, his father bought a yellow Schwinn 10-speed bike with the money he’d saved from his childhood job as a paperboy in Wisconsin. But his [...]

T.C. Williams students ‘kick butts’

T.C. Williams students ‘kick butts’

By Melissa Quinn As T.C. Williams students gathered to raise awareness over the prevalence of tobacco and alcohol advertisements last week, they were greeted by 177 bright flags stuck in the ground. The display served as [...]

Lyles Crouch students, families pay tribute to wounded Alexandria police officer Peter Laboy

Lyles Crouch students, families pay tribute to wounded Alexandria police officer Peter Laboy

By Derrick Perkins Police Chief Earl Cook dropped by Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy on Friday morning to accept roughly $3,000 in donations for officer Peter Laboy, who is recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered not far [...]

Alexandria archaeologists dig up possible slaughterhouse

Alexandria archaeologists dig up possible slaughterhouse

By Derrick Perkins Archaeologists are poring over a massive, brick-lined hole not far from Jefferson-Houston School, containing what might be the most interesting — and surprising — find in recent memory. Local historians believe the uncovered [...]