Politics & Government

City Council, School Board Schedule Closed Meeting

Elected bodies will "to discuss potential legal matters and receive legal advice from counsel."

Alexandria announced Friday the scheduling of a closed meeting next week for members of City Council and School Board “to discuss potential legal matters and receive legal advice from counsel,” according to a news release.

When reached for comment, members of council declined to elaborate on the nature of the meeting or potential topics of discussion.

The meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 at the School Board Administration Building, located at 2000 North Beauregard St.

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One topic that could potentially be discussed is the impending takeover of Alexandria's Jefferson-Houston School by a new state body charged with overseeing the state's underperforming schools.

On July 1, the Opportunity Educational Institution proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and designed to improve schools designated as “chronically failing,”—including Jefferson-Houston—took effect.

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In a June 23 profile of Jefferson-Houston in The Washington Post, District A School Board member Bill Campbell said the city should use everything in its power to prevent the takeover, including challenging the constitutionality of the law that created the Opportunity Educational Institution.      

Council ended its legislative session last month and will not reconvene until September unless a special meeting is called. The school board has a meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 11 before it breaks for its summer recess.


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