Stafford County Public Schools (Stafford Schools) is pleased to announce the 14th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger, organized by Stafford County’s five high school marching bands, raised $27,593 and collected 3,778 pounds of food this year, equating to 58,333 meals for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. The culminating event featured individual performances by each marching band from Brooke Point, Colonial Forge, Mountain View, North Stafford, and Stafford High Schools. Nearly 400 student musicians performed in a combined finale, led by North Stafford High School Assistant Principal Brandon Neal, showcasing unity and talent while supporting local families in need.
Contributions at a Glance:
Total Funds Raised: $27,593 (equivalent to 55,185 meals)
Food Collected: 3,778 pounds (equivalent to 3,148 meals)
Total Impact: 58,333 meals
Significant donations were made by businesses and community organizations, including Chick-fil-A, Manhattan Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, and the Student Organization for Change at the University of Mary Washington. Volunteers from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Boy Scout Troop #2220, Girl Scout Troop #15, and other groups played a critical role in the event’s success.
Community Support Drives Success
This year’s contributions reflect the ongoing community need, as many families continue to face food insecurity due to rising costs and economic challenges. The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank will distribute the donations to local pantries and feeding programs. Since its inception, Band Together to Fight Hunger has generated over 400,000 meals for local families.
For more information about Band Together to Fight Hunger or to support the effort, contact Debbie Pickeral at [email protected]. For more information about Stafford County Public Schools visit www.staffordschools.net.
Elected leaders meet at Brooke Point High School on October 17, 2024 to discuss the Stafford County Public Schools legislative agenda. [Photo: Stafford schools]On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Stafford County School Board convened with local lawmakers to present its 2024 legislative agenda for the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session. Focused on enhancing educational quality and addressing critical funding disparities, the School Board laid out priorities designed to improve resources, staff retention, and the educational environment for Stafford County Public Schools.
The School Board’s legislative agenda underscores several issues:
1. Cost-of-Competing Adjustment (COCA): Stafford County receives only 25% of the COCA funding that neighboring Northern Virginia districts enjoy, despite facing similar cost-of-living and market conditions. The Board urged lawmakers to support full COCA funding to help Stafford attract and retain educators, noting a $10,000 average salary gap between teachers in Stafford and nearby districts.
2. Eliminating the Support Position Cap: Instituted during the 2009 recession, the cap restricts state funding for non-instructional support staff. The School Board argued that lifting this cap would address staffing shortages in essential roles such as social work, custodial services, and administrative support, critical to maintaining high-quality education.
3. Additional Local Sales and Use Tax: Stafford’s enrollment is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, creating a need for expanded school facilities. The Board proposed a local tax increase, pending voter approval, to fund school construction and renovation, helping to address the division’s $1.5 billion in identified capital needs.
4. Standards of Quality (SOQ) Support: The Board called for increased funding for counselors, psychologists, and social workers, advocating that these positions are essential for student mental health and well-being. They also requested more assistant principals to enhance school safety and support instructional leadership.
5. Enhanced Technology Funding: The School Board requested an increase in the per-school allocation for the Standards of Learning (SOL) Technology Initiative from $26,000 to $50,000, with an annual inflation adjustment. This adjustment would provide much-needed resources for technology infrastructure, enabling more effective online testing and digital instruction.
6. Juvenile Court Services Coordination: Recognizing the need for informed intervention, the School Board urged changes to juvenile court reporting requirements, allowing superintendents access to more detailed case information. This, they argued, would improve support-based services and educational planning for students involved in the juvenile justice system.
Moving Forward
As the Virginia General Assembly prepares for the 2025 legislative session, Stafford’s School Board hopes for robust support for its agenda, stressing that these measures are critical for meeting the needs of Stafford’s growing student population. School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund emphasized, “Investing in recruitment, infrastructure, and student support is essential to creating a thriving educational ecosystem that serves not only our students but our entire community.”
Brooke Point High School [Photo: PTSO Facebook page]Three Stafford County schools—Brooke Point High School, H.H. Poole Middle School, and Stafford Middle School—are currently accredited with conditions due to low academic performance in key areas, as discussed during the latest Stafford County School Board meeting. The schools earned this status following evaluations of student achievement in subjects like English, math, and science.
Accreditation with Conditions Explained
During the October 8, 2024, Stafford School Board meeting, officials explained accreditation with conditions signals that while a school meets basic operational standards, it has significant shortcomings in academic performance that need to be addressed. These three schools earned a “Level 3” rating in at least one performance area, indicating performance "below standard." According to Virginia’s accreditation system, schools at this level need targeted interventions.
ASSAULT:
Brooke Point High School, 1700 Courthouse Road, 10/8, 7:00 a.m. Deputy D.J. Taylor was conducting his SRO duties when he was informed of a fight. Two students agreed to participate in a fight in the boy’s bathroom. Both received a criminal complaint for assault and battery.
Courage Lane, 10/8, 8:57 a.m. Deputy S.M. Craig responded to an assault. It was advised a female suspect assaulted the victim due to a previous eviction. Deputy Craig located the suspect and detained her without incident. She was charged with assault and battery and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Stafford County Public School officials are reviewing the division's "Power Hour" lunch periods. High school students can walk around campus to have lunch with friends, study, meet teachers and guidance counselors, or attend workshops during these periods.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor said the power hour lunch was an idea introduced by students and allowed for the first time by the school division for the 2022-23 school year.
From the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
