SROs, School Safety Emphasized In VA AG Letter To Alexandria Officials

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Alexandria public school students returned to school this week, Alexandria officials received a message from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares: take a strong approach against crime in schools.

Miyares wrote to Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and the Alexandria School Board in a letter shared by WJLA. In calling for the city to prioritize student safety, Miyares mentioned the death of Alexandria City High School student Luis Mejia Hernandez, 18, in an off-campus stabbing.

"The death of Luis Mejia Hernandez that occurred just steps away from Alexandria City High School was a tragendy and should have never happened," Miyares wrote. "I hope the City of Alexandria begins the year with a prioritization on the safety of all students, with a realization that the time is now to draw a hard line against crime in our public schools."

The Republican attorney general called for officials to "work more closely" with local and state police and the Commonwealth's Attorney to address crimes in and around schools. Miyares also called for officials to keep supporting school resource officers and continue evaluating if the number of current officers is "adequate."

According to WJLA, Wilson responded in a statement saying the attorney general would be welcome in discussions about student safety. However, the mayor noted Miyares sent the letter to the media after sending it to Alexandria officials, claiming "that tells me he’s not trying to be part of the solution, he’s trying to play politics with our schools." The mayor called for "funding and good policies" to help students.

WTOP reported Alexandria School Board Chair Meagan Alderton acknowledging she wasn't addressed specifically in the letter. However, Alderton said she'd "welcome a conversation with the Virginia attorney general to discuss solutions and positive steps."

The full letter from Miyares is available from WJLA.

School resource officers had not been present at the start of the 2021-2022 school year after City Council removed funding to be redirected for mental health positions. However, after incidents of violence, including a student with a gun arrested outside Alexandria City High School and pleas from ACPS officials and families, the school resource officers were restored.

School resource officers are present in high schools and middle schools at the start of the school year, but a School Law Enforcement Partnership advisory group is working to evaluate the ACPS partnership with the Alexandria Police Department. The advisory group will meet next on Sept. 12.

Additional school security officers are planned at all middle and high school locations as well, according to ACPS. Other school safety measures include a new ID requirement for students at middle and high schools; designated entrances for students, staff and visitors to control access; and maintenance of school communications systems. The King Street and Minnie Howard high school campuses will continue to have a staggered dismissal process and supervised lunch blocks. All ACPS students will also have 30 minutes of social-emotional learning supports each day.