Stafford Schools Eye Job Cuts

Stafford, Va. –– School employees, parents and students Tuesday night came to meet the man who holds the fate of the county school system in his hands.

Dr. Randy Bridges for the first time since accepting the position of Stafford’s schools superintendent shook hands with the public. The event had been rescheduled to Tuesday because of inclement weather.

Laura Dean, president of the Rocky Run Elementary PTO, came because she doesn’t want to see any one at her school lose their jobs.

“We are very concerned about the proposed staff cuts at our school, because they will affect the instructional environment of our school,” said Dean.

Those who drive children to and from school also have their concerns.

“With no new resources, old buses and the fear that we may not get raises this year it makes things tough,” said Terry Welborn, s Stafford school bus driver.

During his public meet and greet, Bridges was calm and collected answering each of the questions asked of him one by one.

During his first few weeks on the job, he was able to meet teachers, administrators and students at each of Stafford’s 30 public schools – a highlight of his short time here, he said.

After touring the schools, it was down to business.

“As a lifetime educator, I think the same educational issues follow you from school system to school system to school system,” said Bridges, a transplant from North Carolina. “Right now, we are working in a tough budget session and we may be forced to eliminate some positions through attrition.”

Stafford’s schools face a $9 million budget deficit, said Bridges.

A budget work session was held last week, and another one is scheduled so officials may come up with a solution to maintain the status of public education in Stafford County.