The North Stafford High School (NSHS) Band is hosting its annual fundraiser dinner February 7, featuring live music, homemade pasta, and a silent auction. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature the North Stafford Jazz Ensemble, made up of 24 student musicians from the school’s band program.
The fundraiser is organized by the NSHS Band Booster Organization, which is made of parents of band members. It aims to raise essential funds that will directly support the band program and be used to support purchasing music, equipment, and providing instruction.
140 students participate in NSHS’s band program across various ensembles. Students can participate in the Big Blue Marching Band, three concert bands, a percussion ensemble and the jazz ensemble.
North Stafford High School Concert Band
The highlight of the evening will be a performance by the North Stafford Jazz Ensemble, a group known for its dynamic mix of musical genres. From smooth jazz to upbeat rock and roll, the ensemble will showcase their talents with a wide range of musical styles to keep the audience entertained throughout the evening.
In addition to pasta dishes made and served by students, a silent auction will also be held, featuring a variety of items donated to support the cause.
Tickets for the event are $15, with free admission for children under 4 years old. Discounts are available for seniors, staff, military personnel, and small businesses through email.
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.
ASSAULT:
Rappahannock Regional Jail, 1745 Richmond Highway, 4:14 p.m. Deputy S. Waheed was assisting in processing a suspect at the jail for a domestic incident. The suspect, unhappy about the situation he created, made things worse when he kicked off one of his crocs and it struck a jail officer. He was charged with assault and battery of a jail officer and was held without bond.
DISTURBANCE:
Davenport Drive, 11/14, 7:31 p.m. Deputy W.E. Trainor responded to a disturbance. It was discovered a family member got upset over finding out who ate all the Doritos. This would escalate to a verbal argument that deputies intervened in just prior to an assault occurring. The suspect would continue her yelling spree and disregard deputies’ commands. When deputies attempted to detain her, she resisted. She was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. She was released by the magistrate on personal recognizance.
DRUGS:
North Stafford High School, 839 Garrisonville Road, 11/14, 9:30 a.m. Deputy A.L. Chaves was conducting his SRO duties when he was informed of drug activity. Instead of packing lunch, a student packed a THC vape. The vape was collected and a criminal complaint for underage possession was submitted.
DUI:
Area of Poplar Road and Truslow Road, 11/14, 9:12 p.m. Deputy S.T. Myers was traveling in the area when he observed a driver who, unfortunately, ran out of gas. Her bad luck continued when Deputy Myers noticed signs of intoxication and Deputy P.J. Leon responded to assist. The driver admitted to consuming “a little bit” of alcohol prior to driving. An open can of sparkling wine was also located within the vehicle. She was charged with driving under the influence and drinking while driving. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
North Stafford High School students will perform "The Brothers Grimm Spectacularthon" on November 14 and 16, packing 209 dark fairy tales into one farcical show.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known as the "Brothers Grimm," were German academics who collected and published folklore in the early 19th century. While many of their tales have become light and family-friendly through modern-day adaptations, like Disney movies, the original works were darker with moral lessons and often tragic or gruesome endings.
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ANIMAL CRUELTY:
Grants Court, 10/23, 6:04 p.m. Deputy T.G. Croson responded to an animal cruelty call. The reporting party advised bleach was poured into a fish tank, killing multiple fish and destroying coral. The investigation is ongoing.
DUI:
Amercia’s Best Value Inn, 605 Warrenton Road, 10/23, 9:27 p.m. Deputy R.T. Philippsen responded to a hit and run. Staff advised a guest struck the motel’s staircase with her Volkswagen. Deputy Philippsen made contact with the driver who had signs of intoxication and admitted to chugging a Corona. After conducting field sobriety tests, she was detained. She was charged with driving under the influence, as well as, hit and run. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,000 secured bond.
LARCENY:
Virginia ABC, 50 North Stafford Complex Center, 10/23, 7:51 p.m. Deputy J.A. Albright responded to a larceny. Staff advised out of all the things to take, a male suspect stole two mini-bottles of Fireball. Deputy Albright was able to identify the suspect and located him later into her shift. He was charged with larceny and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
THREATS:
North Stafford High School, 839 Garrisonville Road, 10/23, 1:15 p.m. Deputy A.N. Taormina was conducting his SRO duties when he was informed of a possible threat. Students were discovered passing a note regarding a threat to the school. The threat was investigated by deputies, school administration, and school security and discovered to not be credible. Out of abundance of caution, additional deputies are patrolling the school.
WARRANT SERVED:
Entrance ramp to Northbound I-95 from Centreport Parkway, 10/23, 7:35 p.m. Detectives with the Special Investigations Unit observed a wanted suspect behind the wheel of a Hyundai. The suspect was wanted through Stafford County for possession of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and contempt of court. With the assistance of Deputy W.A. Bolinsky, a high-risk stop was conducted and the suspect was detained without incident. He was served on his outstanding warrants and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
On Wednesday, October 23, a note containing a threat of bodily harm was found at North Stafford High School, located at 839 Garrisonville Road. The note was initially discovered by a student and circulated among other students before eventually being passed to an adult, who alerted authorities.
Deputy A.N. Taormina, the school resource officer, was informed of the situation at approximately 1:15 p.m. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, school administration, and school security quickly began investigating the potential threat.
Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) and Madison Energy Infrastructure (MEI) celebrated a major step toward sustainability today with the unveiling of Virginia’s largest school solar array, a 1.8-megawatt installation atop North Stafford High School that is set to provide 90% of the school’s electricity while saving an estimated $2.8 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.
On September 12, officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to unveil Virginia’s most extensive school solar array. “Today’s ribbon cutting marks an exciting step forward for our school and community. The installation of this rooftop solar array not only reduces our environmental footprint but also serves as a powerful educational tool for our students,” said Stafford County Public Schools Acting Superintendent Chris R. Fulmer. “Through this project, students are learning the real-world benefits of renewable energy and how it contributes to a sustainable future.”
Principal Dashan Turner said, “Our new rooftop solar array is a remarkable addition to our school, not just in reducing energy costs, but as a living example for our students of environmental responsibility.”
The array has 3,300 solar panels, slated to save the school system an estimated $2.8 million in electric bills over the next 25 years. The array will generate 54 million kilowatt hours of clean energy and offset 41,583 tons of CO2.
Elected officials in attendance, including Stafford County Supervisors Dr. Pamela Yeung and Monica Gary, Delegate Paul Milde (R), and Senators Tara Durant (R) and Jeremy McPike (D), were invited to tour the rooftop while the public looked on. MEI said it would provide stock photos of the array to interested parties.
Joshua Schimpf, Energy Management and Regulatory Compliance Coordinator at Stafford County Public Schools said the planning and application process for the panels began in 2020 as legislative changes allowed school districts to enter into power purchasing agreements. Schimpf, a North Stafford High graduate, explored solar panels to reduce overall operating costs. He said, “The project cost to the division will be zero dollars. It was installed under the parameters of a Power Purchase Agreement in which the investor/system owner recoups their costs through monthly energy payments from the school division. The energy cost is a reduced rate from the local host utility.”
Schimpf said no major roof reinforcement was needed, and the panels have a 30—to 35-year lifespan. As they age and energy capture decreases, the lower energy capture will be offset by financial adjustments with MEI.
MEI will be responsible for all maintenance and will provide 24-hour monitoring of the solar panels. Schimpf explained, “The solar array is remotely monitored 24/7 by MEI’s asset management team, a division of Sun Tribe Solar. Any deficiencies or performance modifications are the responsibility of the the host management team. Stafford Schools personnel will not be required to maintain or repair any parts of the system.”
“It’s an honor to partner with Stafford County Public Schools on this monumental project, with implications for school systems across Virginia as they look toward the future of clean energy,” said Rich Allevi, Vice President of Energy Solutions with MEI. “This project at North Stafford High School will pave the way for a greener outlook while serving as an inspirational model for other school districts across the state and nation.”
“This investment, not only supports a greener future but also ensures long-term financial savings for the entire community,” said Durant, who noted that by reducing the school’s dependence on traditional energy sources, which lowers overall operational costs, the savings benefits taxpayers by allowing the saved funds to be directed toward educational improvements.
“This rooftop solar array represents a significant milestone for our school division,” said Maureen Siegmund, Stafford School Board Chair. “We are proud to be a part of this energy and cost savings project while also providing our students with real-world educational opportunities to engage in this field at North Stafford High School.”
In addition to savings for the school system, this project will provide students with continuous learning opportunities. Students will engage with MEI’s Solar Empowered Schools curriculum, which integrates real-time data from the solar panels into energy and science lessons, providing invaluable insights into renewable energy and environmental stewardship. Students have already begun participation in MEI’s interactive learning opportunities, including solar-empowered school modules and VR educational tours of the rooftop array.
Installation of the solar array began in February 2024, and today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marks the completion of the project.
Stafford County School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund, elected in 2021 to represent the Garrisonville District, spoke with Potomac Local News for the first time since the school division failed to provide transportation to more than 3,000 students at the start of the school year. The transportation issues, which affected about 10% of the student population, left parents struggling to find alternate ways to get their children to school for nearly two weeks.
Siegmund addressed the growing calls for an independent investigation into the transportation breakdown, stating, “We don’t know yet what that [investigation] will look like. The RFQs [Requests for Qualifications] are out, and once we get through that process, we’ll determine what that looks like.” When asked if any personnel changes had been made within the transportation department, Siegmund was unable to provide specifics but emphasized that discussions have been ongoing.
School Board members and the school division have been criticized for their lack of communication and transparency during the crisis. When asked whether personnel changes were necessary, Siegmund said, “We will see.”
The transportation crisis has left many parents frustrated, questioning the competence of the school division’s transportation department. “Thank them for hanging in there,” Siegmund said in response to a question about what she would say to voters who feel let down by the division’s transportation failures.
The interview followed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new solar array project at North Stafford High School. Tensions rose when Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman Sandra Osborn attempted to redirect the conversation to the solar project, stating that her office should answer questions about transportation. Despite Osborn’s attempts to stop the interview, Siegmund continued to answer questions regarding the transportation crisis.
Despite multiple requests for interviews with other school board members, Potomac Local News has not received responses regarding the ongoing transportation issues. The school board has also been criticized for not prominently placing the issue on the school board meeting agendas.
Several parents voiced their concerns over the ongoing transportation failures at the most recent school board meeting on September 10, 2024.
Michael Schultz, a parent, addressed the board, expressing frustration over the inconsistency of the transportation system. “We’re about in week five of the school year, and I can say that transportation has been consistently horrible and inconsistent in pretty much all aspects,” Schultz said. He described situations where students were left at school for extended periods, sharing, “There were kids that were still at the school two hours and 45 minutes after dismissal.” Schultz also noted the lack of improvement, noting that transportation issues were not included in the meeting agenda.
Another parent, Julius Jackson, voiced concerns about the length of bus rides, particularly for students in the Commonwealth Governor’s School (CGS) program. “For transportation, it has been an unmitigated disaster,” Jackson told the board. He highlighted that some CGS students are experiencing commutes ranging from two and a half to four hours. Jackson suggested potential solutions, such as hiring a logistics expert or exploring using charter buses to ease the burden.
Keith Fenders, a parent of two students in the district, raised concerns about the early bus pickup times. “My son has to get the bus at 5:40 in the morning now instead of 6:03,” Fenders said, calling the situation a “logistical failure.” He also requested the school board to provide more clarity on how they plan to resolve the issue. Fenders further noted that driver shortages and using activity buses to fill gaps have exacerbated the problem. “I was told today that we would need 20 or 25 bus drivers to accommodate the satellite schools and alternative schools,” he said.
For families with children in specialized programs like CGS, the long commute times impact academic performance and extracurricular participation. “He has two to three hours of homework every night, and he’s not even started his extracurricular activities yet,” Fenders said.
