Principal Bowen agrees: “Our kids are our motivation. Every day, they remind us why we’re here. You never know when you’ll get a high five, a joke, or a story they’re proud to share. Their energy is contagious.” LOOKING AHEAD Over the next 18 to 24 months, the district’s top priorities are clear: to attract and retain families to reverse a five-year enrollment decline, expand workforce-aligned programs in agriculture,mechanics, and technology, strengthening partnerships with the City of Alexandria to bring new businesses—and new families—into the community and to continue to tell the district’s story to a wider audience. “We need to do a better job of showing people who we are,” Baker says. “We’re a small district with big opportunities, and we have to tell that story proudly.” As Alexandria continues to adapt to the evolving economy, its message remains steady: no excuses, no exceptions, every student, every day. With that conviction—and a community willing to work together—the district is proving that small schools can think big. PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Grand Industrial LLC www.grandindustrial.com 174 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12
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