Archive for 'Schools'

Alexandria School board returns teacher to shelter for troubled children

Alexandria School board returns teacher to shelter for troubled children

By Melissa Quinn School board members overwhelmingly voted January 24 to return teacher Michael Casey to a local shelter for at-risk children after his sudden removal last year came under scrutiny. Casey, a special education teacher [...]

Alexandria’s Richmond delegation seeks change in wake of Sandy Hook

Alexandria’s Richmond delegation seeks change in wake of Sandy Hook

By Melissa Quinn As the nation continues to debate gun control in the wake of the Newtown mass shooting, Alexandria’s state lawmakers have joined in the fray, drafting legislation aimed at tightening firearm laws. State Sen. [...]

Teacher’s removal from shelter for troubled children raises concerns

Teacher’s removal from shelter for troubled children raises concerns

By Melissa Quinn Michael Casey provided an education for the 11 at-risk youth housed at Alexandria’s Sheltercare program until public school officials abruptly reassigned him in October. Casey, a certified special education teacher, worked with the [...]

New Alexandria School Board chiefs face bevy of issues

New Alexandria School Board chiefs face bevy of issues

By Melissa Quinn New school board chairwoman Karen Graf and vice chairman Justin Keating plan to address overcrowding and the achievement gap between minority students and their white peers this year. But taking control amid budget [...]

School board members grill superintendent on Education Foundation

School board members grill superintendent on Education Foundation

By Melissa Quinn Sparks flew at last week’s school board meeting after new member Patricia Hennig pressed Superintendent Morton Sherman for information about the Alexandria City Public Schools Education Foundation. Hennig questioned the nonprofit’s use of [...]

ACPS slates federal funds for new mobile health center

ACPS slates federal funds for new mobile health center

By Melissa Quinn Forget the traditional nurse’s office, Alexandria City Public Schools officials hope to unveil a mobile doctor’s office by the end of 2014. The district recently received a grant for more than $380,771 from [...]

Jefferson-Houston project gets city council’s go-ahead

Jefferson-Houston project gets city council’s go-ahead

By Melissa Quinn Alexandria City Council gave school officials the green light to move ahead with construction of a new Jefferson-Houston School in a unanimous vote Saturday. The decision to approve rezoning came after city councilors [...]

Ireton’s drive for perfection fuels players

Ireton’s drive for perfection fuels players

By Melissa Quinn For the Bishop Ireton boys varsity basketball team, perfection no longer falls into the category of something to strive for — it’s demanded. Every practice begins with perfection: a series of drills using [...]

Rethinking student rankings at T.C. Williams

Rethinking student rankings at T.C. Williams

By Melissa Quinn T.C. Williams students may soon say goodbye to the coveted valedictorian and salutatorian titles. Principal Suzanne Maxey and Greg Forbes, director of school counseling, approached Superintendent Morton Sherman with the idea over the [...]

From slaughterhouse to schoolhouse

From slaughterhouse to schoolhouse

By Derrick Perkins It’s not quite striking pay dirt, but archeologists combing over the future site of the re-imagined Jefferson-Houston School may have found the remains of a long-buried slaughterhouse. An archeological survey conducted by URS, [...]