STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board held its first town hall for the parents of elementary-aged students to hear about the county’s elementary school redistricting plans.
The redistricting meetings come after discussions the School Board had during Capital Improvement Plan negotiations in June 2018, when it and the county’s Board of Supervisors agreed to re-district schools if the Board of Supervisors purchased the old Fredericksburg Christian Schools campus, located in North Stafford to house the division’s head start program.
The school division bought the building for $7.2 million in December 2018.
The School Board has two different plans to choose from — Plan A and plan B. Each elementary school will be affected in different ways. For example, some Aquia Harbour residents won’t be attending the newly rebuilt Ann E. Moncure Elementary School opening in Fall 2019. Those students will be sent to Hampton Oaks Elementary School.
A total of 3,195 students would be affected if plan A were to be chosen and 3,800 students would be affected if the School Board chose plan B.
The redistricting plans will take effect during the 2019-2020 school year. The School Board’s main goal is to limit school capacity to or around 85 percent for the 2022-2023 school year.
Despite the School Board’s best efforts, it appears that some schools will still be a few percentage points over the main goal of 85. Schools that are 88 percent or higher are:
- Anthony Burns (88.44%)
- Hampton Oaks (88.45%)
- Anne Moncure (90.19%)
No elementary schools will be under 81 percent capacity in Plan A
Schools that will be at 88 percent or higher in four years will be:
- Kate Barrett (88.41%)
- Conway (88.64%)
- Falmouth (88.33%)
Hartwood and Margaret Brent elementary schools are projected to be under 80 percent capacity during the 2022-2023 school year in Plan B.
Currently, in the elementary schools, there are 3,000 vacant seats throughout the county.
Elementary schools over capacity include:
- Margaret Brent
- Anthony Burns
- Hartwood
- Stafford
- Widewater
Garrisonville and Rock Hill elementary schools are the only schools under 70 percent capacity.
Many parents were concerned about the already long bus rides for their children, while others who attended the public meeting at Drew Middle School asked how long their child’s bus ride would be if they were relocated to another school.
“We have not looked at each bus route yet,” said Scott Horan, assistant superintendent for operations.
According to Schools Superintendent Scott Kizner, some staff such as ESL teachers or Special Education teachers could be moved from their current school and placed in a school with higher percentages of special needs students but the administration will remain the same in each school.
The most recent round of school redistricting occurred in Stafford in 2015. One parent, concerned about their child being potentially moved again and asked if those students were exempt from being moved for the second time in four years.
“Students who were moved during the 2015 elementary school redistricting are not exempt from the process but the School Board will do their best not to move those affected in 2015,” Kizner said.
The School Board had originally wanted to include a redistricting committee in the process. They decided against the committee after a second thought.
“The School Board wanted to minimize conflicts of interests such as friendships and outside influences,” Kizner said.
Rising fifth graders will be grandfathered in and allowed to continue going to the original school they were at during fourth grade.
The School Board will hold a final meeting for public input at H.H. Poole Middle School on January 23 at 7 p.m.
The School Board will make their final decision on the redistricting plan in late February or early March.
“I have decided to run for Supervisor to continue serving and fighting for the residents of Rock Hill. In my three years on the Planning Commission, I have fought for every single one of my residents’ issues, as my own, not overlooking even the most controversial. Now I want to expand that fight for my residents onto the Board of Supervisors where we see more than approving/denying land uses," Vanuch penned in a press release. "There are a host of issues coming to the board that could forever change our county and I will not allow special interests to dictate my vote. I want to find solutions to ensure development pays for itself and that we find ways to work with state and federal officials to get real solutions to the constant traffic congestion this county sees daily. I sit in the same traffic and have the same frustrations in lack of infrastructure. I have seen Stafford go from a one-lane road on route 610 to the congestion it is today. The residents of Rock Hill are tired of the same old promises, lack of transparency, and backroom deals.”
Vanuch, a Stafford County native and Virginia Wesleyan College graduate, has served on the Planning Commission since 2016 when Maurer appointed her. Vanuch was re-elected as Chairwoman for the Planning Commission during their meeting on Jan. 9. Vanuch leads a Stafford County-based Capitol Hill Solutions public affairs firm. She has also worked for Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Vivus Inc, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. She's married to her husband, David. Maurer is not resigning but will finish her term on the Board once it ends Dec. 31. “We have a lot of controversial topics such as the Capital Improvement Plan that I look forward to working on later this year,” Maurer said. The other Board members offered thanks for Maurer’s service on the Board and support for her decision. “Wendy, you’ve done a great job for three years,” Falmouth Supervisor Meg Bohmke said. “I’m proud of you for putting yourself first.” “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you and working with you for 20 years now, and it comes to the time when I sit down next to you and decide to not to run again,” George Washington Supervisor Tom Coen said. “You will be sorely missed on this Board.” Bohme and Coen offered support for Vanuch during their portion of the Board’s comments. “Crystal would do a great job in your [Maurer’s] seat,” Bohmke said. “I can’t speak highly enough of Ms. Vanuch,” Coen said. “It’s always nice seeing my former students rise up.”STAFFORD -- Ferry Farm Elementary School will be getting a $10 million renovation.
The Stafford County School Board chose this option instead of rebuilding the school from the ground up. The School Board voted to start phase one of the renovation during a special called meeting on Dec. 4, 2018.
The 61-year-old elementary school will receive a multi-step renovation after the Board of Supervisors in May refused to give the School Board funds in May to pay for a full-scale rebuild.
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STAFFORD -- The turnover rate at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has long been a problem.
In the county’s 2040 strategic plan, leaders plan to reduce public safety turnover by developing policies to discourage staff from searching for new jobs.
“The turnover of personnel is a significant issue because deputy sheriffs receive basic, continuing and specialty training at a significant effort and cost to the county and the sheriff’s office,” Sheriff David Decatur wrote in an email to Potomac Local.
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STAFFORD -- The purchase of a shuttered Fredericksburg Christian Schools campus triggered a new round elementary school redistricting.
Schools officials earlier this month held an information session with parents about elementary redistricting at Rodney Thompson Middle School. The session was held to inform parents who have children in overcrowded elementary schools that their students may soon be moved to another school.
The Board of Supervisors and the School Board agreed to re-district schools if the Board of Supervisors purchased the old Fredericksburg Christian Schools campus, located in North Stafford to house the division’s headstart program. The school division this month bought the building for $7.2 million.
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STAFFORD -- Teachers and school faculty could see a five percent increase in their yearly salaries if a new proposal is included in the School Board’s budget.
The Stafford Education Association proposed an across-the-board increase for all employees during a budget committee meeting with the School Board held in early November.
“We have to focus on the priorities when it comes to the budget,” said Jeff Trigger, teacher and SEA member. “If we desire to retain our best educators, then it’s time to pay them as if we want them to stay.”
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STAFFORD -- Stafford County won’t see an expansive new courthouse as originally envisioned.
Instead of a $70 million full campus renovation, county leaders decided to renovate only the Circuit Court, bringing the price tag to $26 million.
County officials say “[The full renovation of the courthouse presented] challenges in meeting obligations, impacts of growth, and planning for the future led to a proposed change in funding strategy.”
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STAFFORD -- Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Kizner has followed through with a promise to draft a policy that will allow transgender students to use the locker and bathrooms of their choice.
The policy will allow transgender students to use the locker rooms that correspond with their self-identified gender identity. They’ll need a confirmation letter from either a parent, health care provider, school staff member familiar with the student or other family members or friends to do so, according to the new policy.
The Stafford County School Board is set to hear the new policy on Tuesday night.
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STAFFORD -- There are new delays in Stafford County’s effort to expand bike and walking trails in the county.
Leaders late last month once again approved an extension to allow staff to prolong to February 19 the study period for the planned bike and pedestrian trails throughout Stafford.
According to county officials, county staff members require additional time to draft an official plan, hold public hearings, and present the information to the Planning Commission, who will make the final recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
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STAFFORD -- The Stafford County Board of Supervisors put new stricter rules in place for septic systems.
The new ordinance adopted on Nov. 7 requires inspection and enforcement to ensure that these systems are running smoothly.
Stafford County residents have experienced problems when using community septic systems which are located in common open space such as a neighborhood. They are usually maintained by a homeowners association.
