ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The buses emptied and the marching band started up, and waiting on the sidewalk to watch Alexandria’s students walk back into school Monday morning were the mayor, the police chief, a new School Board chair, a new principal and an acting superintendent 12 days into the job.
It was 68 degrees and sunny. Mayor Alyia Gaskins had arrived before the band began playing.
Michael Burch, beginning his first year as principal of Alexandria City High School, opened by admitting nerves. He has worked in the building 17 years, he said, and still felt like an arriving freshman. He then introduced Acting Superintendent Grace Taylor as a graduate of the school.
“This is going to be the best school year yet,” Taylor said.
She had started her morning at the bus depot, where she said more than 100 buses rolled out across the city. She reserved her warmest words for the youngest arrivals, calling the incoming kindergartners the class of 2039, and thanked volunteers for stuffing more than 3,500 backpacks with school supplies…