ACPS pushes back on intercampus high school transportation controversy | ALXnow

After an editorial from Alexandria City High School student newspaper Theogony said students walk between classes because buses are not available, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) leadership has responded that bus availability isn’t an issue and it could be cracking down soon on students walking between campuses.

Theogony reported that roughly 1,600 students travel between the King Street and Minnie Howard campuses of Alexandria City High School every day and hundreds of students say they’re unable to rely on bus transportation for that trip. Those students walk the 0.6 mile distance between campuses across the busy and dangerous Quaker-King-Braddock intersection.

Chief Operating Officer Alicia Hart and Chief Academic Officer Pierrette Finney, however, said in an email to ALXnow that buses are currently being underutilized.

“While we appreciate the reports regarding students walking between campuses, it’s important to clarify that the situation is not due to a lack of bus availability,” Hart and Finney said. “In fact, many students are choosing not to utilize the shuttles that are currently in place.”

The email from Hart and Finney noted that shuttles are often only at one-third capacity when they travel between campuses.

“We want to emphasize that there are plenty of buses available to deliver students to and from each campus,” the email said. “Upon a recent observation of use, the shuttles provided are only a third full and not appropriately utilized. The administration is committed to working closely with students to ensure that everyone is utilizing the shuttle service that has been provided since the beginning of the school year.”

Despite ACPS’ claim that buses are available, Theogony reported first-hand that students have lined up waiting for buses that haven’t shown up on time to transport students and those that do wait for the bus often arrive at classes late.

Hart and Finney also said students are not permitted to walk between campuses, though Theogony reported they’re already doing so by the hundreds.

According to the email:

Additionally, with ACPS’s policy of closed campuses, students are not permitted to leave during the school day without explicit permission from their parent or guardian. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and has been reiterated to students and families multiple times. The ACHS administrative team is actively working with students and families to clarify and reinforce the message that ACHS is a closed campus.

Regarding the issue of students walking unsupervised, we recognize the potential risks involved, particularly at busy intersections. We are actively reviewing safety measures, including working with the City on additional pedestrian safety measures and determining if crossing guards are needed to enhance student safety.

Hart and Finney said intercampus transportation is provided in the morning before school and throughout the day during each class period. Students receive an alert with an electronic pass.

“This pass allows you to leave class a few minutes early to ensure you can board your bus or shuttle promptly,” the email said. “Please remember that consistent failure to use ACPS transportation for campus transitions will result in follow-up from your administrator and potential consequences.”

The email from Hart and Finney said the schools are putting additional systems in place to identify students who walk rather than ride the bus.

In the meantime, the email said ACPS will “conduct a thorough review of scheduling to identify any opportunities to reduce the number of transitions throughout the school day, which may help improve the overall experience for our students.”

“We continue to emphasize with Alexandria City High School (ACHS) students and families that the school has a closed campus and they have been directed to take the shuttles as they transition between campuses since walking between campuses is not permitted,” Chief of School & Community Relations Julia Burgos said. “We have hired additional staff and are using new resources to ensure the shuttles are taken between campuses to ensure student safety. “

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.