Alexandria City School Board’s Stakeholder Survey Closes on April 26, 2023

The Alexandria City School Board is asking all stakeholders to participate in a survey about key issues affecting the structure of the School Board serving our community. This survey, available online in multiple languages, is open through 11:59 p.m. on April 26, 2023.

In recent months, the Board has embarked on a journey to reshape the School Board structure to better serve the needs of the school community. It has considered changes to Board member elections, including staggered terms, the length of terms and the number of Board members.

One major component that is under consideration that will be different from what the community is accustomed to is “staggered terms.” This is defined as an arrangement in which School Board members are elected in different years, starting and ending their terms of School Board service at different times, rather than all at the same time. Currently, all nine School Board members are elected during the same election in the same year, with their terms ending at the same time. Staggered terms would allow for members to be elected in different years, ensuring  that the Board retains some of its members who have already been serving; this supports continuity and institutional knowledge. Additionally, it is easier to keep the division’s work intact while orienting new Board members to the division’s work.

For more information about this process, please review this presentation or view this video of the Feb. 9, 2023, School Board work session. Also, the School Board held a public hearing on this topic at its Board meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., April 20, 2023.

The Board is at a point in this process where the voice of stakeholders is vitally important and it invites community members to complete the survey and share their input by April 26, 2023, in advance of the Board taking its next steps. These changes may impact the continuity of operations, resident representation, accountability and timing of elections. Stakeholder input will inform decisions in each of these areas. Thank you to all who provide their feedback.