Editor’s Note: This is the second in a six-part series called “A Conversation with the Superintendent,” based on a sit-down interview with Stafford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith. The series explores Dr. Smith’s vision for the division, including how he plans to fix school transportation, address special education and equity gaps, manage a growing budget crisis, recruit new talent, and navigate ongoing debates about diversity and inclusion. Stay with us each week for new installments.
Next up: Part Three – Reaching Every Learner
How is Stafford working to meet the needs of its most vulnerable students? In our next installment, Dr. Smith opens up about the growing challenges in special education and ESL, and reveals new strategies aimed at closing achievement gaps — even as the district grapples with limited resources and rising demands.
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Editor’s Note: This is the first in a six-part series called “A Conversation with the Superintendent,” based on a sit-down interview with Stafford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith. The series explores Smith’s vision for the division, how he plans to fix school transportation, address special education and equity gaps, manage a growing budget crisis, recruit new talent, and navigate ongoing debates about diversity and inclusion. Stay with us each week for new installments.
When Dr. Daniel W. Smith started his new role as Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools on December 9, 2024, he didn’t come in with plans to make sweeping changes overnight. Instead, he saw an opportunity to listen.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) on Friday defended his decision to veto a bill that would have let Stafford County voters decide whether to raise the local sales tax by one percent to help pay for school construction.
In a response to Potomac Local News, Youngkin said he rejected the measure to protect Virginians from what he sees as over-taxation at both the state and local levels.
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Public transportation in Northern Virginia is seeing a significant rebound as ridership continues to climb on both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains and OmniRide commuter and local buses. However, transit leaders warn that increased demand may soon outpace available resources, especially for locally funded services.
During its March 2025 meeting, the VRE Operations Board reported that ridership in February topped 152,000 trips—despite only 19 service days and early-month weather disruptions. March figures are on pace to surpass that total significantly. With only 14 service days logged by mid-month, March had already recorded more than 162,000 trips. Average weekday ridership has climbed to more than 11,500 trips.
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Families in Stafford County must now opt-in to receive school bus transportation for the 2025–26 academic year—a major change prompted by last year’s transportation meltdown that left thousands of students without a ride to school.
Starting April 8, 2025, parents and guardians must log into the school division’s system and indicate whether their child will ride the bus. The district will not assign bus service to students who are not registered through the opt-in system.
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The cost of Stafford County’s long-planned courthouse replacement project has increased significantly, with county officials acknowledging major changes in scope. During the March 11, 2025, Board of Supervisors meeting, staff presented the latest budget updates, revealing the financial impact of the courthouse expansion.
“There definitely is a project cost increase with this courthouse,” said County Administrator Bill Ashton. “This is a new full court that will be across the street. So there is a cost increase on this, but the timing looks like it should be relatively the same.”
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Parents, mark your calendars: Stafford’s Duff McDuff Green Park's new playground will open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.
The existing playground was wholly removed, having reached the end of its lifespan after being installed in August 2001. Shannon Eubanks, Stafford’s Community Engagement Program Manager, said the new playground was designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind, incorporating features that cater to children of all abilities.
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The Stafford County School Board is moving forward with plans to redesign and rebuild Drew Middle School, with an anticipated opening in August 2028. The proposed facility, located at Oak Knoll Farm off Farm Road, aims to modernize the school's infrastructure while accommodating growing student enrollment.
During a recent school board meeting, officials and architects presented multiple design concepts, emphasizing the need for an efficient, functional, and community-oriented space. One of the primary considerations in the redesign process is the inclusion of a performance space—a feature strongly supported by community feedback.
History and Justification for Replacement
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Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody presented the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget proposal to the City Council on March 11. The proposal outline a $136.75 million spending plan to strengthen public schools, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure long-term financial stability.
The proposal includes a three-cent real estate tax increase to fund these initiatives, bringing the rate from $0.77 to $0.80 per $100 of assessed value. This tax hike is expected to generate additional revenue while helping to fund essential services such as a new middle school, a fire station, and water system upgrades.
