Students in the City of Alexandria may be getting an additional elementary school as part of a larger plan to handle ongoing capacity issues as the area's population continues to grow.
The Alexandria City Public Schools School Board voted in late December to fund all items listed as “priority one” in a recent Targeted Facilities Conditions Assessment. Those top priorities include major repair works, security systems and environmental health issues.
"Continuing its push to update its aging infrastructure, the Board voted to support an aggressive modernization timeline that will undertake the modernization of three elementary schools; the design for one elementary school; and the design and construction for one other new school over the next ten years," according to a release from ACPS. "It also voted to increase funding for a new building on the current Minnie Howard Campus site — part of the campus model for T.C. Williams High School."
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School will be undergoing a complete reconstruction and should welcome students in January 2023. In the meantime, starting in September, those students will attend school at the old Patrick Henry school building in Seminary Valley.
George Mason Elementary School's modernization will start in 2023.
Cora Kelly's modernization will start in 2026.
Matthew Maury Elementary School's modernization will start in 2030.
Design for a new elementary school will start in 2028. (The location of the school is to be determined.)
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget also includes $158.2 million for The High School Project in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. This will include a new 1,600-student building on the current Minnie Howard site to build capacity there and continue plans toward a Connected High School Network.
In addition to this construction, funds will go toward critical repairs at some schools, including fixing leaky roofs and windows.
Though the school board voted on this budget, it still has to go through a process with the City of Alexandria before it is finalized.
The Capital Improvement Program Budget will be included as part of the City Manager’s Budget. That budget will be presented to City Council in February and then go through six work sessions before the City Council approves the budget in May 2020. Then, the school board must re-approve its budget.
