To the Editor:
The next 3 years are critical for our schools.
Over the past three years, City Council has embarked on several youth related planning processes, each designed to support the health, education and success of our city’s young people.
With the approval of the Youth Master Plan, we now have strategy to ensure that youth-related services are accessible to all and that the city remains accountable for these program successes.
As an educator, I know that we must address ACPS’s capacity issues.
However, our young people are more than just schools. This Thursday, the city along with ALIVE! will open the Alexandria Food Center to ensure that no child goes hungry in our city and families have food security.
While we’ve achieved much, the next three years will be critical in laying out a successful future for Alexandria’s youth. For young people remain a top policy priority, we need someone on Council with the professional expertise and experience to lead the charge.
With nearly one-third of the city’s annual budget supports our youth and families, it is essential that we continue to have a professional perspective on council as the city’s updates and implements youth and education policies.
As a career educator, I hope to continue to bring perspective to these issues and work to make our families and communities stronger. I ask for your vote on Nov. 3 for that reason.
John T. Chapman
Councilman