Opinion
As families prepare their kids to head back to school one thought is in the back of everyone’s mind: safety. Prince William County schools are a reflection of Prince William County communities.
Potomac School Board Rep Betty Covington and I recently attended a safe schools presentation at Forest Park High School. One thing is clear: safe schools start with safe communities.
As Chairman of the Prince William County Safe Schools Advisory Council I have had the opportunity to chair public meetings with staff and parents at the Kelly Leadership Center. The staff in our schools put forth impressive efforts to keep our kids safe during the school day. In fact, I do believe our kids are safer today from outside threats than they were ten years ago.
However, challenges still remain which we need to address. As Chairman of the School Board, I will work collaboratively with the community to promote these three priorities: (1) mobile devices and social media; (2) safety before and after school; (3) mental health safety.
Social media and mobile devices have simplified our lives in many ways, but they have created a host of safety challenges for our young people. The Safe Schools Advisory Council hosted a social media information night in May, open to the community. More than 250 members of the community came to learn about the long term implications of sexting and cyberbullying. Most importantly, we provided resources to help families prevent these issues from happening in the future. While 250 is an impressive number, the need for more education on this issue in the community is clear.
While kids are safe during the school day, Prince William County needs to review and update safety protocols to answer these questions: How can we ensure safety in the morning, while kids are meeting with teachers to collect missed assignments? How can we ensure safety in the afternoon while kids and staff are still on school grounds for clubs, tutoring and athletics? Furthermore, how can we ensure kids are safe while in transit (walking or bus) to and from school?
Mental health can be at the root of many safety incidents in schools. While we learn about mental health and develop protocols to keep kids and staff safe, we must balance this with a need to respect privacy and rights of individuals. The Safe Schools Advisory Council hosted a Mental Health Information night, also open to the community, in October 2014. Parents sent a message: they need a more responsive school system with respect to mental health. Some of these issues overlapped with Special Education. As with most challenges, the best solutions come from collaboration.
Candidates (including myself) will be talking about class size reduction, competitive teacher pay and common core during this election season. These are prominent issues for Prince William County. However, the 2015 conversation would be incomplete without robust dialogue on how to maintain a safe, healthy and drug free learning environment for our kids and staff. Safe Communities – Safe Schools – Safe Kids.
*Singstock is a candidate for the Chairman of the Prince William County School Board.
Recent Stories
The Manassas City Council voted to extend a lucrative tax incentive for Micron Technology Inc. through 2035, solidifying the semiconductor company’s continued presence in the city. The deal, passed during the February 10, 2025, council meeting, ensures Micron’s annual tax payments increase by 4% while maintaining a lower tax rate than other manufacturers.
However, the decision has raised questions about a potential conflict of interest involving Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger. Multiple sources have indicated that Davis-Younger is in a relationship with Delbert Parks, Vice President and Site Director at Micron’s Manassas facility.
Parks is named in an official letter from the mayor, dated the same day as the vote, outlining the incentives offered to Micron. During the meeting, Vice Mayor Mark Wolfe alluded to the relationship, stating that “some of the comments floating around online are BS,” referring to speculation that the mayor’s ties to Parks influenced the tax break discussions.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved a 24-acre rezoning for a new data center development along Wellington Road, despite opposition from Supervisor Bob Weir and concerns about its proximity to Patriot High School.
On February 4, 2025, the board approved Rezoning #REZ2024-00042, NVA05C, changing the property’s zoning from agricultural and business districts to Planned Business District (PBD) to accommodate a data center. The site, located 700 feet southwest of Freedom Center Boulevard and Wellington Road, is part of Innovation Park, an area designated for high-tech development.
The rezoning application was submitted by STACK Infrastructure, which operates data centers in multiple locations across North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Some key Northern Virginia locations include: Manassas, Ashburn, and Leesburg.
Fredericksburg is taking another step forward to become a more walkable community with the recent start of construction off LaFayette Boulevard, which is part of the city’s Twin Lake Drive and Kensington Pedestrian Connector project.
This $2.4 million project includes extending a 10-foot wide paved shared-use path along the north side of Lafayette Boulevard between Twin Lake Drive and St. Paul Street in the City of Fredericksburg. The path will be accessible, with ramps and crosswalks built where the route intersects with Twin Lakes Drive, Springwood Drive, Kensington Place, and St. Paul Street.
The project includes a paved access point to the Virginia Central Railway Trail from the cul-de-sac of Springwood Drive, and a bike repair station will be installed at Alum Spring Park.
The process Fredericksburg City Council is following to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat could conflict with state code—especially with a provision added last year that states that governing bodies must publicly announce the names of those being considered to fill a vacant seat at least seven days before the appointment is made.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
(Webinar) Diet & Dementia: Brain-Healthy Tips to Reduce Your Risk…
Did you know that your food choices can impact your risk of developing dementia?
Kick off National Nutrition Month with an educational discussion on Wednesday, March 5 at 12 PM EST with Sunday Health dementia neurologist Dr. Sara Doyle and
