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Douglas Macarthur Modernization

Welcome to the Opening of the new Douglas MacArthur Elementary School!

ACPS celebrated the opening of the newly constructed Douglas MacArthur on Fri., Aug. 18, 2023, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We are so excited about this new building and its offering of a modern, welcoming and innovative space where our students can learn and grow and our staff can teach and thrive,” ACPS Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt said as she called the building a “beacon for the community.” Douglas MacArthur Principal Penny Hairston, Alexandria City School Board Chair Dr. Michelle Rief, Alexandria City Mayor Justin Wilson and ACPS Chief Operating Officer Dr. Alicia Hart also addressed the gathering of elected officials, community leaders and student ambassadors in attendance. Dr. Rief presented a commemorative plaque from the School Board to Douglas MacArthur’s principal, before a group cut the ribbon at the school entrance. Watch highlights from the exciting occasion here!

 

Douglas MacArthur Modernization Project

 

 

A new Douglas MacArthur Elementary School is scheduled to open its doors in August 2023. The original opening was scheduled for 2025, but in April 2019, the School Board voted to use swing space at the former Patrick Henry Elementary School for Douglas MacArthur students beginning in 2020. This decision allowed Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to move up the timeline for the Douglas MacArthur community.

Visit the SKANSKA project website

Douglas MacArthur Modernization Project Timeline

The new Douglas MacArthur Elementary School building will be built on the same site as the original building. The new building is planned to be 150,000 square feet and three stories. It will accommodate spaces for classrooms, art and music rooms and physical education. The design also includes turf fields and play areas. The building is scheduled to open in August of 2023.
 

Project Timeline

 

Updates

 

Jul. 13, 2023 - Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on Douglas MacArthur construction and transition timeline.

Jun. 13, 2023 - Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on Douglas MacArthur construction and transition timeline.

Mar. 28, 2023 - Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on the Douglas MacArthur design, construction timelines, and transition logistics.

Dec. 12, 2022 - Virtual Community Meeting

The Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design team held a virtual community meeting to provide an update on the Douglas MacArthur design, construction timelines, and transition logistics.

Please send your feedback to Arte’a Funderburk, CIP communications specialist, at artea.funderburk@acps.k12.va.us.


Community Engagement

Douglas MacArthur modernization included four phases of community engagement: pre-design, design, construction, and occupancy

The MacArthur community will be involved in the design and build of the new school in several ways. 

Communicating with the Douglas MacArthur community is a very important part of this project. In order to ensure community feedback, we have created an Advisory Group of community members as well as a School Advisory Team made up of school administrators, staff and teachers. These groups will provide input to the core project team of ACPS staff and the architect group DLR. 

Skanska, the project development and construction group hired for this project, also has a site-specific Project Website that provides up-to-date information on site construction, traffic concerns and FAQs. 

Community members are also welcome to send comments to the project team at newmacarthur@acps.k12.va.us

Advisory Group Members:

 

NAME

 

 

ORGANIZATION/TITLE

 

 

EMAIL ADDRESS

 

Lisa Porter

Clover College Park Civic Association

lkporter78@gmail.com

Bill Pfister

Parent and Community Member

wcpfister@gmail.com

Elliot Rhodeside

Community Member

elliotr@rhiplaces.com

Kristina Seppala

Douglas MacArthur PTA

kristina@camelbackstrategy.com

Kelly Booz

Taylor Run Civic Association

kbooz@aft.org

Mindy Lyle

Alexandria Planning Commission

mindylyle@comcast.net

Margaret Lorber

School Board Member

margaret.lober@acps.k12.va.us

Randy Gore  Edith S. Hawkins

Campagna Center

 

rgore@campagnacenter.org  ehawkins@campagnacenter.org

 

Amy Jackson

Alexandria City Council Member

amy.jackson@alexandriava.gov

Dana Colors

Alexandria Park & Recreation Commission

danacolors@gmail.com

Gaynelle Diaz

ARHA

gdiaz@arha.us

Jeanette Chuck

Parent and Community Member

jeanette.chuck@gmail.com