Schools

Expected storms prompt prompt early school closures, dismissals

By Potomac Local News

Severe weather prompts widespread school adjustments across Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg on Monday, March 16, as a strong cold front brings risks of damaging winds over 70 mph and possible tornadoes.

Prince William County Public Schools will dismiss two hours early, Manassas Park City Schools will dismiss two hours early with specific times by level, Manassas City Public Schools will operate on early release with no PreK, while Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, and Fredericksburg City Public Schools will close fully or shift to remote learning.

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Stafford School Board Explores Revenue Sharing Deal with Supervisors for More Predictable Funding

By Potomac Local News

The Stafford County School Board is examining a potential revenue-sharing agreement with the Board of Supervisors that could provide schools with more stable, multi-year funding and reduce the uncertainty tied to the annual budget cycle.

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Jumping Shad, Diving Eagles: Witness Stafford’s Hidden Spring Wonder Along the Rappahannock

By Potomac Local News
[Photo: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources]

From mid-March through early May, thousands of anadromous fish surge upstream, drawing wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, anglers, and families to the riverbanks. Stafford County stands out as a prime, accessible spot to witness this ancient migration—often called one of the region’s best-kept secrets for those seeking an authentic outdoor experience blending wildlife, history, and seasonal wonder.

American shad (*Alosa sapidissima*) and hickory shad (along with river herring like alewife and blueback) are the stars. These fish spend most of their lives in the salty Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay but return each spring to freshwater rivers to spawn.

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Could your child walk farther to school? Stafford considers using fewer buses, explores efficiencies

By Uriah Kiser
Kindergarten students get off the bus at Park Ridge Elementary School on "transition day," Monday, August 11, 2025. [Photo: Stafford County Public Schools]

Stafford County Public Schools is considering expanding non-transportation zones (NTZs), areas where no bus service is provided, and families are responsible for getting students to school.

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Hansford Wins Back Job: Arbitrator Slams PWCS for Union Discrimination in Hiring Denial

By Uriah Kiser

In a decision that underscores the protections afforded to union leaders under Virginia’s collective bargaining laws, a neutral arbitrator has ruled that Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) committed unfair labor practices by refusing to rehire former Prince William Education Association (PWEA) President Mary “Maggie” Hansford in August 2025. Hansford, who led the union through historic wage negotiations, described the ruling as a moment of “relief and gratitude” in an exclusive statement to Potomac Local News.

The case centers on PWCS’s denial of Hansford’s applications for a speech-language pathologist position and a substitute teacher role. The school division cited media reports of a Virginia Education Association (VEA) audit alleging mismanagement during Hansford’s PWEA presidency, which led to an emergency trusteeship imposed on July 21, 2025. The trusteeship, which suspended Hansford and the PWEA board, was upheld following a contentious 14-hour hearing in August 2025.

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Student Makes Farm Bureau History

By Uriah Kiser
Ringer

A Brentsville District High School senior has become the first high school student in the nation to serve as chair of a county Farm Bureau committee, according to Prince William County Public Schools.

Hunter Ringer, president of the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, was selected to lead the Prince William-Fairfax Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee after the position was left vacant for the year. Farm Bureau President Stephanie Cornnell proposed Ringer for the role after noticing his leadership and dedication to agricultural education.

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Prince William Theater Teachers Fight New Stage Rules

By Uriah Kiser
ARTfactory Wind River Theater

Prince William County officials defended new permitting rules for school theater stages after teachers and students raised concerns at a School Board meeting on February 18.

The controversy stems from a January 13, 2026, memorandum issued by Prince William County Risk Management, enforced through the county permitting office. It mandates county permits, structural reviews by licensed engineers or contractors, and a four- to six-month approval timeline for any temporary theatrical stage or platform exceeding 16½ inches in height or 120 square feet in area, particularly when supporting 10 or more people.

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PWCS Proposes $2.1 Billion FY27 Budget

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Schools Superintendent LaTanya McDade. [Courtesy of PWCS on X]

Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade presented a proposed $2.1 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the School Board, featuring significant staff pay increases and new strategic investments amid declining enrollment.

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Prince William School Board Backs Student Protest Rights

By Mauriah Church-Barbour
Prince William County School Board

The Prince William County School Board affirmed students’ First Amendment rights to peaceful protest during its February 18, 2026, meeting in Prince William County.

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