Virginia Attorney General Visits Alexandria Schools, Discusses Safety

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Alexandria leaders traded letters about school safety concerns, he made a visit to Alexandria City Public Schools Tuesday. Leaders shared positive responses from the visit, which brought together a bipartisan group to see the school district's students and staff in action.

In August, WJLA had shared a letter the Republican Miyares sent to Democratic Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson highlighting a need to prioritize school safety and continued support for school resource officers. The concerns about school safety centered about the off-campus stabbing death of Alexandria City High School student Luis Mejia Hernandez, 18, at the end of last school year.

Wilson responded to the attorney general's letter, encouraging Miyares to visit Alexandria schools and collaborating with the state.

That visit transpired Monday. According to a statement from ACPS and City of Alexandria, Miyares visited Alexandria City High School along with Wilson, School Board Vice Chair Jacinta Greene, City Manager Jim Parajon, Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes, ACPS Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt and Alexandria City High School Executive Principal Peter Balas.

Miyares called the meeting "productive" in a statement shared with Patch.

"[Monday's] meeting was productive and I was able to share some concerns, as well as offer the resources of the Office of Attorney General to support them," Miyares said. "Alexandria City High School has amazing students, and I was honored to meet some of them today. I look forward to working together with the Alexandria City officials to make sure parents feel confident that their children will be safe at school."

Wilson said students benefit when the different levels of government "are rowing in the same direction."

"I appreciated that the Attorney General took the time to learn about our school, our students and the partnership between City and Schools that works tirelessly to expand opportunity for success," said Wilson in a statement. "We will continue the dialogue to inform the policy-making process in Richmond and identify ways that Richmond can help students thrive."

According to the city and school district's statement, the visit helped address concerns about school safety and share "share the unique characteristics of our community and high school." Alexandria leaders agreed with Miyares on the importance of a safe learning environment for students and highlighted schools' partnership with Alexandria Police Department and other agencies.

The school district had implemented safety measures in response to the off-campus death of Luis Mejia Hernandez. Additional measures were introduced at the start of the current school year.

SEE ALSO: Police Officers, Camera Systems Boost Student Safety: Alexandria Forum

While the visit stemmed from school safety discussions, Miyares got to visit the high school's International Academy students focused on English fluency, students in Career and Technical Education classes and advanced science students preparing for higher education. Miyares invited high school students who are foster children, immigrants and refugees to visit the state capitol during the upcoming General Assembly session in January or February to learn more about Virginia.