Stafford County Public Schools are ushering in a new era of leadership, announcing the appointment of several new principals, including the founding principals of two new elementary schools. Additionally, the district has hired a new Executive Director of Transportation, John Wilcots, who brings experience from one of the nation's largest school districts to tackle local transportation challenges.
New Principals to Lead Staffordâs Expanding Schools
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Keen said the total budget for FY26 was $327.8 million, a 1.7% decrease from the adopted budget in fiscal year 2025, which was $333.6 million.
"This decrease is due to the large use of one-time funds for capital projects in the previous year, primarily the purchase of Marstellar [Middle School] and the Manassas Shopping Center," Keen said.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Stafford County's Board of Supervisors and School Board will hold their respective meetings on Tuesday, February 25. Both meetings will be streamed live, with agendas available online.
Board of Supervisors Meeting â 5 p.m.
The Board of Supervisors will review the transportation biannual update, focusing on the Transportation Master Plan and various state and federal grant programs.
Transportation Master Plan Overview
- Phase 1 ($225 million):
- Four projects under construction: Berea Church Road, Route 1 at Telegraph/Woodstock, Staffordboro Boulevard sidewalk, and Route 1 at Courthouse Road ($57 million total).
- The Courthouse Road project has a $3.2 million shortfall. However, Berea Church Road and Telegraph Road projects are under budget, with surplus funds moving into contingency.
- Eight projects in the engineering phase totaling $168 million.
- Phase 2 ($600 million+):
- Includes four projects in engineering and 12 roadway and 33 bike/pedestrian projects in planning.
- Major areas of focus include Kings Highway, Chatham Heights, Mine Road, and Greenspring Drive.
- Phase 3 ($1 billion+):
- Proposed projects include a new north-south corridor west of I-95, running parallel to Route 1, and widening Courthouse, Mountain View, and Shelton Shop roads.
State Funding: almost $292 million, an increase of $10.5 million from last year
Departmental Savings: $890,000 in savings from departmental budgets
New School Staffing: $914,000 to staff new schools being built in the county
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
"Itâs been a while since weâve had Restaurant Week here in Historic Downtown," said Kristen Kiefer, Executive Director of Historic Manassas Inc. "Given that February is a slow month for restaurants, we saw this as a great opportunity to bring people downtown, support our local eateries, and introduce the community to new dining experiences."
New Restaurants Spotlight
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
A group of Belmont Bay homeowners has filed a complaint with the Virginia Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman, accusing their homeowners association (HOA) board of violating transparency regulations. The complaint, submitted by KP Lau, president of Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay (CCUBB), alleges that the HOA board conducted business behind closed doors, failed to notify residents about key meetings, and did not follow its own communication protocols regarding land deals and rezoning discussions.
Allegations of Secret Meetings and Lack of Communication
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Williams acknowledged the race of other black school board members but purposefully left out Brentsville representative Erica Tredinnick, a black Republican. Her efforts had the unintended consequence of displaying why identity politics is so divisive. Prince William GOP posted on X after the meeting, âGuess [Tredinnick] isnât âBlack enoughâ in [Williamsâ] mind. This is the leftâs identity politics at work: itâs not about representation, itâs about control.â
Williams touted the divisionâs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts over the years, and vowed to push a DEI agenda within the school system. Her words come as the U.S. Department of Education has ordered an end to DEI practices, stating, âpervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academiaâ on February 1, 2025.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Latoya Crabbe, the Manasas woman accused of shooting and killing her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbed, was released from jail on Friday, February 21, 2025. At the county jail, she had an emotional reunion with her mother, Marilyn Martin, who patiently waited for officials to release her from the lockup sheâd been in since being charged on October 21, 2024.Â
A short time later, at home, Crabbe waited anxiously for her three children, whom she had not seen in four months, to come home from school. "Iâm relieved to be back home, but Iâm still anxious about the pending trial," she said. "The most important thing for me is to hug and kiss my babies right now."
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
Updated 11 a.m. â Less than two months after announcing she would not seek another term, Stafford County Supervisor Monica Gary has reversed her decision. She will run for re-election as an independent candidate.
Gary, who represents the Aquia District on the Board of Supervisors, posted on Facebook on February 20, 2025, citing encouragement from her community and family as the driving force behind her change of heart.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Feb. 24 regular meeting. This weekâs meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.
Important links
Key agenda items
