Residents urge $1 million add for Alexandria City Public Schools; debate proposed cuts to Office of Climate Action

Dozens of residents urged the Alexandria City Council on April 8 to approve a $1,000,000 add to the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) FY2026 budget, while climate activists, parents and nonprofit leaders asked the council not to cut $300,000 from the Office of Climate Action (OCA).

The hearing drew parents, school employees and community groups who said the money would fund student-facing positions and help with rising enrollment. "Strong schools make strong communities," said Katie Brownback, president of the Alexandria Council PTA, who told the council that ACPS enrollment is increasing and that the system needs additional counselors, social workers and teachers.

The proposed $1,000,000 add was framed by several speakers as necessary to help ACPS recruit and retain staff and to relieve acute caseloads. "These ad funds translate to more children getting to talk to an adult who cares every day and receiving counseling services," said Katie Golden, a school social worker at Patrick Henry K–8, who described a caseload of more than 1,000 students at that school.

Nut graf: The public hearing centered on trade-offs in a tight city budget. Advocates for ACPS framed the add as a one-time infusion that can protect student support roles and bolster classrooms during a year of rising enrollment and uncertain federal funding. Opponents of the climate-budget cut said the OCA is newly staffed and poised to implement programs that reduce emissions and help low-income households, and that one-time cuts can be difficult to reverse.

What speakers said - Education: Parents, PTA leaders and school staff repeatedly asked council to approve the $1,000,000 add to ACPS for student-facing positions, counselors and teacher pay. Julia Scylla, secretary of the Alexandria Council PTAs, said the funds are needed "to meet enrollment needs for 2025–26" and to retain teachers. Several speakers noted recent gains after last year’s increase to ACPS funding and said the new money would sustain that progress.

- Climate action: Marta Shantz, a local climate activist, opposed a proposed amendment by Councilman Chapman to delete…