The 2022-23 school year marked the first time a student representative sat on the Stafford County School Board.
The county followed a growing trend around the region where school boards allow student body members to sit alongside elected officials and share their opinions and insight on matters facing the governing body.
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In partnership with businesses, and secondary and post-secondary schools, the funding will focus on planning and implementing Intern Expos, hosting workforce and intern workshops, and supporting workforce volunteers and Chamber staff in their efforts within the workforce development arena. The funding will be matched with in-kind and cash contributions from local partners and the FXBG Chamber.
The grant funding is a workforce development implementation grant spanning over a two-year grant cycle representing GO Virginia's Region 6. The grant outcomes will result in up to 100 work-based learning connections and internships across our region annually, focusing on GO Virginia's targeted industries.
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Today’s Take Me-Home-Tuesday pets post comes from the Prince William County Animal Shelter.
Ice – #5050, Male dog, 7 – 10 years old, house trained, loves walks “move-in” condition. Ice is the typical couch potato. He’s also calm with other dogs.
Ivy – #37124, Female cat, 9 years-old, Domestic Black and White short hair, Spayed.
If you want to apply or learn about either, go to the Prince William County Animal Shelter page at the top of this post. You can also call 703-792-6465, or email [email protected]
We accept write-ups and photos of animals for adoption across the region. Please send the em to [email protected].
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office gave me a tour of its facilities and a view of how each division creates one functioning department.Â
Captain Ray Davis gave this tour. He was very kind in explaining the job from the ground up to the higher levels of admin.
When you hear law enforcement, you might first think about the deputy in the police car working the street. However, dispatchers, which serve as law enforcement’s front line, can become so stressed that they are given access to a quiet room during their shifts. A lot of coordination between dispatchers and law enforcement officers goes into making sure people can get the help they need.
Some of the rooms were not accessible for this tour. However, each office within the building held teams of people separated by division. Each floor corresponded with different levels.Â
Deputies were stationed on the bottom floor, where they could quickly go out and respond, while the administration offices sat on the top floor. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has existed since at least 1634. However, one thing that is always changing around them is the community and the different types of personalities that they all have to interact with.Â
First responders have to stay flexible, but there are many easy ways to make their job easier, said Davis.
In order to be helpful to your 911 dispatcher or anyone who is coming to help you in case of an emergency, make sure to gather information such as location, type of emergency, and the total number of people involved, said Davis. Helping dispatchers and deputies in times of emergency or crisis speeds up the process.
Toward the end of the facility tour, Davis mentioned a website where important information for first responders could be stored. Visit smart911.com and see if adding information will help in a crisis.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is hiring 911 dispatchers called communications officers. The office produced a video to show the job, which has a $46,755 annual starting pay.
The department maintains county government computers and the network in which they share information via email and other applications. It’s also responsible for maintaining the county’s GIS mapping services used by the planning department.
Harrison comes to the county government after working in a similar role at Geico, Inc.
More in a press release.
Stafford County is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Director of Information Technology (IT), Matt Harrison. Harrison came to Stafford to serve as Assistant Director of IT and was quickly tapped to become Interim Director. Harrison came to Stafford from GEICO, where he was Director of Engineering and responsible for customer and counselor-facing applications, including Sales and Claims. Harrison is a part of the Information Services functional area will continue reporting to the Chief Director of Information Services.
“Matt Harrison has extensive IT experience, with more than 26 years of IT experience in both the private and public sectors. He has distinguished himself during his time with Stafford,” said County Administrator Randal Vosburg. “We are happy with the expertise he brings to the job and the continuity he will provide for the department.”
Matt Harrison has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University in New York state. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C. Harrison has over 26 years of Information Technology experience, 18 years with GEICO, and eight years as a consultant for government, telecommunications, healthcare, and financial services customers. He started with Stafford County in 2022.
Our pet for this week is Frosted Flakes.
Frosted Flakes was transferred to us from Sweet Virginia Barn Cats in June of last year, along with her three other siblings. One by one all of her siblings have gone home, leaving her as the only cereal kitten left. We can’t understand why she hasn’t been able to find a furever home. She is a spunky, adventurous kitten full of energy. Frosted spends most of her days greeting our visitors at her door, laying in the sun or playing with her roommates.
Frosted Flakes is about a year old, spayed, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations.
If you are interested in applying or learning about Frosted Flakes, go to staffordspca.org. You can also call (540)-242-0607, or email [email protected].
Stafford SPCA is a registered 501(C)3 Non-Profit that receives zero funding from the government. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.
Animal shelters and non-profits should email us a description and photo to be featured on our “Take Me Home Tuesday” post.
Kindergarten registration opens March 1 for Stafford County Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year! Parents and guardians of children who are five years old by September 30, 2023 are encouraged to complete the online registration process.
The following documents are required for enrollment:
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The National Museum of the Marine Corps Fifth Annual Marine Corps Student Art Competition opens March 1, 2023, to all U.S. students in grades K-12. This year’s theme is “Leatherneck Legends.”
Student artists are asked to create a piece of 2D art inspired by the life, stories, and/or achievements of an individual Marine or “Leatherneck.” Suggestions include: a Marine from history (past or present), a Marine the student knows personally, Wounded Warrior Marines, Combat Veteran/Veteran Marines, or any United States Marine that the student artist believes is deserving of the “legend” title.
“The Marine Corps Combat Art Program recognizes the importance of art in telling all stories. This competition gives young artists an opportunity to use their talents to honor their heroes of our Corps,” Kris Battles, Marine Corps Artist in Residence, said.
The competition is open to private, public, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and homeschool students in grades K-12. Entries must be 2D and submitted digitally, beginning March 1, 2023, and no later than March 15, 2023.
Submissions will be judged in five grade-based categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and special needs grades K-6 and 7-12. Only the first 50 submissions in each category will be accepted for consideration.
More information and entry forms can be found on the museum website.
Winners will receive a certificate and a cash prize sponsored by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Our pet for this week is Sir Loin.
Sir Loin came into our care when he was transferred to us from a local shelter that was overflowing with cats. While we are still learning about him, he seems to be a fairly laid-back kinda guy! Sir Loin does enjoy pets from staff/volunteers, but he can also entertain himself if he has a window to look out of or some catnip to munch on. We are hoping we can find an awesome home for this groovy guy!
Sir Loin is 2 years old, neutered and up to date on vaccinations.
If you are interested in applying or learning about Sir Loin, go to staffordspca.org. You can also call (540)-242-0607, or email [email protected].
Stafford SPCA is a registered 501(C)3 Non-Profit that receives zero funding from the government. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.
Animal shelters and non-profits should email us a description and photo to be featured on our “Take Me Home Tuesday” post.
