"This is a game-changer for MWES! It allows us to enhance our security system, which will make our school a safer place for everyone," Danna Johnson, the MWES principal, said. "This investment will give our entire school community peace of mind and continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing not only a nurturing environment for our students, but a safe and secure one as well."
This grant is part of a statewide initiative from the VDOE to increase school safety. The VDOE has allocated $12 million in grant funding to 472 schools across the Commonwealth. In late November, two Manassas City Public Schools (Round and Haydon Elementary) received $250,000 — the highest amount of grant money possible for one school district, according to a VDOE release.
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Stafford County Public Schools is moving forward with the planned rebuild of Drew Middle School, incorporating extensive community feedback into the design process. At a school board work session on December 10, 2024, representatives from Spaces Design Studio of Fredericksburg and Los Angeles-based Samaha Associates presented the results of the community engagement efforts, which began in October.
The input gathered through surveys, teacher meetings, and a public community forum has helped shape the vision for the new school.
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Bollino has been in music education for more than 20 years, the majority of which has been with Stafford County Public Schools. According to her LinkedIn page, she joined PWCS in February.
"I am honored to be recognized for my leadership. Music and the arts are intricately woven into the very fabric of who I am and how I lead; they have profoundly shaped my identity, and I draw on these deep-rooted passions to ensure that our PWCS students have access to the same enriching opportunities and transformative experiences that have molded me into the person I am today," she said.
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Michael Carter, a plumbing teacher at Woodbridge's Gar-Field High School, was recently named the 2024 Plumbing Instructor of the Year by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC).
PHCC was founded in 1883 and has more than 125 state and local affiliates across the country. In Virginia, there is one state association and two local, one of which is based in Northern Virginia.
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Stafford County Public Schools invites families, staff, and community members to attend the 2025 Budget Town Halls.
In a 4-2 vote with one abstention, the School Board voted to start on Aug. 12 in the upcoming two school years. The Board members who voted in favor of earlier start dates, or Option A, said they did so to remain in line with the survey results.
According to a non-scientific poll conducted by MCPS in the fall, 59% of parents and 63% of staff members preferred Option A. Only 13% of respondents made comments on the poll, and among those most vocal were parents who preferred Option B, or a start for students in the third week of August.
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The Stafford County School Board is evaluating five scenarios for redistricting its high schools, aiming to address overcrowding, transportation inefficiencies, and community concerns. The school board held a public hearing on high school redistricting at its Tuesday, December 10 meeting. The discussions, which have drawn public input, focus on balancing capacity projections with operational feasibility and maintaining community stability.
Schools Facing Significant Changes
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At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City School Board approved the fiscal year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which outlines significant facility and resource investments to improve the district's educational environment.
The Board unanimously passed the $73 million plan. It includes several projects aimed at upgrading school facilities, addressing maintenance needs and creating more engaging spaces for learning. A notable addition is the installation of new bleachers at Metz Middle School.
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The planned rebuild of Drew Middle School in Stafford County is moving forward amid discussions about a $16 million increase in costs. The updated total is now $113 million, up from the originally approved $96.5 million in the county’s Capital Improvement Plan.
The additional costs are attributed to land acquisition, off-site infrastructure improvements, and increased contingency funding.
![Michael Carter Michael Carter was recognized nationally as a plumbing teacher. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-2-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter is the first high school teacher to receive this award. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-plumbing-3-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter with his students at Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-4.jpeg){kind=link}
![Michael Carter was recognized nationally as a plumbing teacher. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gar-field-high-plumbing-1260x840.jpeg){kind=link}