STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — During the lunchtime hour Wednesday, Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Susan Stimpson talked about the county’s public schools.
From her Facebook page, she and Falmouth School Board Representative Meg Bohmke took questions from constituents about things like student activity buses and rebuilding Stafford Senior High School. The entire discussion can be viewed on Stimpson’s Facebook page.
“Many of the districts are not wanting to provide [afterschool activity buses] because of the costs of gas, wear, and manpower. However, Prince William County has them and daily they provide rides to within a few blocks to many teens every day. One way to cut costs would be that parents have to sign their student up for the bus and pay a fee. I would gladly pay money for my student to ride. Those who could not afford, such as free and reduced, could have a waiver number, like their lunch number, so this appeals to everyone, not just those who have,” stated Jackie Gardner, of Stafford.
Bohmke replied and stated afterschool buses are provided at the high-school level, but budget restraints would halt any expansion of the afterschool bus program.
“We looked at all athletic funding at the middle and high school levels and at all extracurricular activities at elementary, middle and high schools and the Board chose to maintain all programs for the coming fiscal year,” stated Bohmke.
On the topic of rebuilding Stafford Senior High School, Stimpson cited a letter from the Stafford County Public School System’s Capital Improvements Planning Advisory Committee that stated rebuilding the 36-year-old school is a better alternative to remodeling it. Smaller classrooms, the presence of asbestos, and extensive refurbishing requirements were all given as reasons to rebuild the school from the ground up. By comparison, Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge opened in 1953 and houses 44 percent more students than Stafford Senior High School.
The discussion was part of Stimpson’s “Our Stafford, Our Say” initiative designed to provide more personal access to the Board Chairman. While some teachers said it was difficult to participate in the live chat during lunchtime, Stimpson said she is open to other timeframes during the day to hold other discussions.
