Newly unsealed documents show the Stafford County School Board’s legal counsel advised against passing protections for transgender students.

It did it anyway, after more than 400 people filled the Board Chambers and, after six hours of public testimony at a Sept. 10, 2019 meeting. The most polarizing additions to the school division’s existing policy that came with the decision now provided protections for “sexual orientation” of students, staff, and faculty, and addressed “gender identity” in the updated policy.

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In a 4-3 vote, the Stafford School Board voted to waive their attorney-client privilege and make the attorney’s opinion on the on its hotly debated transgender non-discrimination policy open to the public.

Until now, that opinion has been sealed from public view.

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A recycling program at the R-Board Regional Landfill in Stafford County acts as an alternative to dropping items off at businesses, such as big-box retailers that may charge recycling fees.

•  “The advantage for people is not only that we get it [e-waste] out of the landfill, but it also helps us raise money to help out the community,” program manager Fred Canon said.
• Best Buy offers can recycle many smaller electronics for free, but they charge $25 to take monitors and TVs.

The program uses proceeds from electronic recycling to donate to several organizations.

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Climate change has gotten the attention of elected leaders in Prince William County’s largest town. 

• “The costs of addressing this climate emergency are far less than the costs of not addressing the climate crisis; and solving the crisis will take significant public investment, education, commitment, and resolve,” Councilwoman Cydny Neville said in an email to Potomac Local.

• Neville proposed the resolution declaring the town climate crisis, and now, after the Town Council approved it,  it’s up to the Town Manager to come up with ways the town government can fight climate change.
• He did not return a request for comment for this story.

Sustainable measures have already been employed by Dumfries to combat such problems. 

• In a September resolution, the town council called for the research and implementation of sustainable practices. It is unclear what specific changes the town will implement to reduce carbon emissions and combat the climate crisis. 
• The Town is also supportive of an amendment that increases the amount of renewable energy that residents can buy from an outside developer and use. This third-party power purchase agreement would use solar power to offset energy bills for customers leading to greater savings overall. 

Additionally, Neville proposed a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Financing Program.

• Essentially, this program would make green energy more accessible and affordable for businesses. 
• There will be a public hearing on Dec. 3 for the program at the town hall that will start shortly after 7 p.m.

Here’s the state of the climate crisis that has lead Dumfries to declare an emergency.

• There is a scientific consensus that climate change is a real and urgent threat.
• Scientists say increased carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases have led to an overall increase in global temperatures.
• Global warming has caused an increase in heat waves/fires, led to the melting of glaciers, and brought about rising sea levels, they add.

High school teachers received a full day of training on LGBT+ Equity and Inclusion at North Stafford.

• “Stafford County has a focus on equity and a holistic learning environment where all students can thrive,” Director of Equity and Accountability Roxana McCarthy said.
• Middle school and elementary school teachers received a similar training on Nov. 5.

The training was designed to help teachers understand LGBT students, and be better equipped to address bullying problems.

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As part of a biannual listening tour, Stafford County residents may ask questions of school officials about issues that matter to them. 

• Sessions are held in North Stafford and in the southern portion of the county each year. 
• Stafford High School hosted the Listening Tour on Thursday, October 24 night for the first time. 
• About 30 people attended the Q&A session and attendance was on the lower side as past listening tours have ranged from 10 to 175 people. 

There were questions about the county’s population and its projected effects on school growth were the topics of several questions, and confusion about the county’s soon-to-be-built sixth high, and 18th elementary schools.

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Stafford School Board candidate Carol Huebner Medawar wore a campaign shirt at a recent school-sponsored bingo night. 

• She was attending the late August event with her child who attends Stafford High School.
• Medawar is running for the George Washington District seat on the Stafford County School Board. 
• The seat is currently held by Dewayne McOsker who isn’t seeking reelection. 

The school division prohibits campaigning on school grounds, and now the incident has sparked Board discussion about what qualifies as campaigning.

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Located in North Stafford and once a Christian school, it’s the newest county school facility.

• The center houses a variety of programs for children from birth to age five. This includes Head Start,
• Virginia Preschool Initiative, Early Childhood Special Education, and Early Head Start.
• Northam joined school officials Monday afternoon for an official ribbon cutting.
• The school has been open since the start of the school year in mid-August.

“I was blown away by the work that they’ve done to get this up and running this year,” Northam said.

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After a six-hour marathon meeting, the Stafford County School Board passed employee and student non-discrimination policies one year after a transgender student was barred from using a bathroom facility.

Questions remain, however, as to how these policies will be implemented, as they do not specifically address transgender bathroom usage.

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