Abigail Huser, a life science teacher and department lead at Metz Middle School, has been named Manassas City Public Schools’ 2025 Washington Post Teacher of the Year. Known for her energy, leadership, and dedication, Huser is being recognized for going the extra mile to support students’ academic and personal growth.

Huser joined MCPS in 2022 and quickly became a mentor, coach, and instructional leader. From translating lessons for multilingual learners to coaching the volleyball team, she brings creativity and heart to everything she does. Metz Principal Juliet Finnegan called her “the teacher every student hopes to have,” praising her ability to create a classroom culture rooted in curiosity and respect.

Her impact was on full display during a recent school math event, where students showcased their math skills in interactive ways. A crowd favorite was Dash the Robot, which helped students explore coding through hands-on programming activities. The school community turned out in force, with staff, families, and volunteers all contributing to the event’s success.

“She’s more than just a teacher—she’s a role model who empowers students and builds lasting connections,” said a parent of one of Huser’s students. Former students echoed that praise, calling her classes fun, engaging, and a safe space to learn and grow.

Huser was one of 13 finalists from the region considered for the prestigious Washington Post honor.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Prince William County Public Schools is asking families to notify the division whether their students will require bus transportation for the upcoming 2025–26 school year, a move aimed at improving routing efficiency and service reliability.

While some families may see this as an “opt-in” process similar to what neighboring Stafford County implemented earlier this year, PWCS says that is not the case.

“All students will be provided with a bus, if they qualify (e.g., the student is not a walker), unless the family indicates otherwise,” said PWCS spokeswoman Meghan Silas. “To help us plan better bus routes and improve on-time service, PWCS is asking families to let us know if their students will need bus transportation for the 2025–26 school year.”

Parents are asked to log in to their ParentVUE accounts and complete the transportation update as soon as possible. Silas emphasized that even if students don’t need a bus—such as high schoolers who drive themselves to school—it’s still important for families to report that information. If plans change later, families can contact their child’s school to update transportation preferences.

The goal, according to PWCS, is to collect more accurate data about ridership and eliminate unnecessary stops, which can delay service across the county’s large bus network.

Following Stafford’s Lead?

In nearby Stafford County, public school officials rolled out a similar request earlier this year—though theirs came with more urgency and a new opt-in policy following a transportation crisis at the start of the 2024–25 school year. That crisis left more than 3,000 students without assigned buses on the first day of school due to rushed implementation of routing software and staff shortages.

As a result, Stafford officials revamped the system. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, families there must opt in for bus service. By early June, nearly 30,000 students had declared their transportation plans, with thousands opting out of morning or afternoon rides. Families who fail to submit their preference in Stafford must work with school registrars to reapply for transportation.

While Prince William is not requiring an opt-in, the similarities in timing and communication have drawn attention.

Prince William County Public Schools transports more than 60,000 students daily. Officials say collecting accurate ridership data early will allow them to fine-tune routes, reduce delays, and better serve all students.

Families can access the transportation preference form via ParentVUE and are encouraged to update their responses soon.

Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) employees may get an additional 1.5% salary increase for the 2025-2026 school year, pending School Board approval on June 24.

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MANASSAS, Va. – A spirited discussion emerged at the June 5 Manassas City School Board work session as board members debated whether the district should allow teachers to assign zeroes to students who fail to turn in assignments.

The proposal, introduced by board member Sara Brescia, aims to revise the current grading policy, which uses a 50–100 scale and does not allow grades below 50%, even for missing work. Brescia argued that the lack of a true zero disincentivizes student effort.

“Some students are calculating how many assignments they can skip and still pass,” Brescia said. “We need to help students develop habits that prepare them for life after graduation.”

Brescia’s proposal was modeled after policies in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, which use placeholders like “M” (missing) or “I” (incomplete) to indicate missing work. If a student makes no attempt within two weeks, a zero may be recorded. Brescia clarified that her proposal would retain the current grading scale but introduce a structured consequence for prolonged inaction.

Background: Ongoing Debate Over Grading Policy

This latest conversation follows a series of policy discussions stretching back nearly a year. On July 24, 2024, the board approved an amendment to the 2024–2025 grading policy allowing students to receive full credit for assignments turned in up to two weeks late and before the end of the quarter. The policy was adopted with a 5–1 vote, with only board member Robyn Williams dissenting.

Prior to the vote, the board had reviewed three different late-work policies, each retaining the 50–100 grading scale and incorporating flexibility around remediation and retakes. All were part of a broader effort to reimagine grading systems in response to post-pandemic challenges and declining student engagement.

Brescia also addressed this issue on an August 1, 2024 podcast episode hosted by Potomac Local News, where she outlined her perspective on why grading policies must evolve to better reflect both student learning and accountability.

The topic resurfaced publicly again in October 2024 as a major campaign issue during the school board election, when Potomac Local News reported on declining Standards of Learning (SOL) scores and community frustration with inconsistent grading expectations across classrooms.

Board Member Perspectives

In Favor of Exploring Zeroes (with Conditions):

• Sara Brescia: Advocated for zeroes as a last-resort tool after a grace period, saying current policy allows students to “game the system.”
• Dayna-Marie Miles: Supported the proposal based on personal and professional experience, arguing it encourages responsibility and prepares students for college and employment.

Opposed to Zeroes:

• Dr. Zella Jones: Warned that zeroes discourage students, distort academic achievement, and deepen learning gaps.
• Diana Brown: Emphasized the need for data-driven decision-making and cautioned against changes based on perception alone.
• Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman: Defended the 50–100 scale as a normalized 10-point system and stressed the need for equitable policies that account for external challenges facing students.

Other members, including Vice Chair Lisa A. Stevens and Chair Suzanne W. Seaberg, called for deeper analysis and input from teachers, students, and families before any further action.

While only two members expressed immediate interest in revisiting the grading policy, the board agreed decided not to conduct a broader data review in the coming school year. That analysis may would have included:

• Counts of 50s assigned for attempted vs. missing work (newly trackable in PowerSchool).
• Feedback from students, parents, and educators.
• Comparisons with college acceptance trends and GPA recovery rates.

Initially, the school board discussed setting a goal to bring back a comprehensive report before determining whether to propose formal changes, but most members changed their minds.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected.

STAFFORD, Va. – Thousands of families have now confirmed whether their children will ride the bus next school year, as Stafford County Public Schools continues to implement its new transportation opt-in policy.

As of the end of May 2025, 29,717 students across the division have declared their transportation intentions for the upcoming school year. Of those, 5,640 students have opted out of morning service, and 5,224 have opted out of afternoon service, according to information presented at June 10, 2025 School Board meeting.

The district’s transportation department began routing on June 3, 2025, and route information is scheduled to appear in ParentVUE by July 1. Final route details will be emailed to families on July 29, with drivers receiving their assignments on August 5, followed by practice runs August 7–8. A Transition Day for students is set for August 11.

A Shift Prompted by Crisis

The opt-in system marks a major change in how SCPS manages school bus service—and it’s a direct response to a transportation crisis that unfolded in August 2024, when more than 3,000 students were left without assigned bus service on the eve of the first day of school.

Parents received late-night notifications that their children would not have transportation the following morning, prompting widespread confusion and community outrage. Some students were still without transportation weeks into the school year.

Potomac Local News covered the crisis extensively. At the time, school officials blamed new, untested routing software and staff shortages, while parents criticized the lack of timely communication. Interim Superintendent Chris Fulmer acknowledged that the system had been rolled out too quickly and without adequate preparation.

In March 2025, SCPS announced the move to an opt-in model, requiring families to actively request school bus service. The shift was designed to eliminate unused bus stops and routes, allowing the department to use its resources more efficiently and reliably.

What’s New This Year

The transportation team presented an update to the school board in June, highlighting several changes beyond the opt-in system:

• A new dispatcher will be added to the department starting July 1 to improve route monitoring and communication.
• The district introduced digital request forms (TR-1) for students with disabilities, integrating transportation needs directly into Synergy, the school division’s student information system.
• The MyRide app remains available for parents to track bus locations, although reliability remains a concern in areas with limited cell coverage.

The transportation department also addressed an ongoing concern from drivers: behavior management on the bus. Last school year, more than 1,600 behavior referrals were submitted. Drivers say they are often not informed whether their concerns are addressed by school administrators.

Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith noted that behavior management should reflect a student’s actions across all environments—classrooms, lunchrooms, and buses—and emphasized the importance of a feedback loop so drivers know their reports are taken seriously.

Parents who fail to opt in or change their minds must now go through their school registrar to request transportation. If a student does not ride the bus for 10 consecutive school days, they will be removed from the manifest (though the stop remains). Re-entry could take up to 10 business days.

Stafford County Public Schools is moving ahead with plans to eliminate artificial food dyes from school meals, following the signing of a new state law that will ban certain synthetic color additives by 2027.

Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed HB 1910 and SB 1289, legislation that “prohibit[s] public elementary and secondary schools from serving any food that contains specific color additives for school meals or competitive food.”

“I’m encouraged by this truly non-partisan effort that started with Parents stepping forward and saying let’s work together to provide healthier food choices for our kids during the school day,” Youngkin said. “HB1910 and SB1289 are grassroots bills at their best and provide Virginia families with healthier options for school meals.”

HB910 had patrons included Republican Delegates Paul Milde (Stafford), Ian Lovejoy (Prince William), and Robert Orrock and Phillip Scott (Spotsylvania). SB1289’s patrons included Senators Tara Durant (R – Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford) and Danica Roem (D – City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Prince William County).

Durant recently visited Stafford’s Grafton Village Elementary School to speak with 5th-grade students on Career Day, which she has done for several years. She shared the bill with the students, who will be rising 8th-graders when the ban goes into effect. Durant said the fifth graders were surprised to see the number of ingredients in some of their favorite snacks, and asked questions about how manufacturers might change products to comply with the ban. Durant is seeing a shift towards healthier diets and lifestyles with the young adult generation, particularly as a mother of twenty-year-olds. She said they choose more holistic foods and lifestyle choices, avoiding processed foods, dyes, alcohol and smoking.

In Stafford, school nutrition staff have already begun preparations to comply with the law.

“We are working closely with our food vendors to remove and replace foods with the banned dyes,” said Brian Williams, Executive Director of Nutrition Services for Stafford County Public Schools. “Nutrition is in the process of updating product specifications in anticipation of the law,” he added, saying the nutrition services team is “currently working with our food manufacturers to identify and strategically replace food products containing the banned dyes going into the new school year.”

Williams confirmed that some products have already been removed: “In this school year, we found and removed several snacks that contained the Red Dye #3 and we are now in the process of conducting an in depth review of the new school year food specification list.”

New products are also being introduced: “Students will see more snack items produced without banned dyes as Frito Lay and other manufacturers have already begun to make their products compliant to the upcoming laws.” Dye-free Doritos were recently offered at elementary schools for “Walking Tacos,” a dish where chips are served with taco fixings.

Williams said the county had not received any feedback from students.

He also addressed broader efforts to reduce dyes through fresher menu items. “Stafford County Public Schools Nutrition Services has made tremendous strides in reducing highly processed entrees while increasing fresh, whole, and scratch cooked meals,” Williams said. “By offering more scratch prepared dishes, the department is able to reduce and eliminate the occurrences of many of these banned dyes from the student lunch menu.”

There are no current financial concerns or funding efforts tied to the transition. “No, not at this point,” Williams said when asked if there were financial obstacles. On the topic of funding, he added, “No,” the district has not received or applied for any.

Williams said the district plans to keep families informed. “Nutrition Services will work with the division’s communication department to best target our banned dye communications with families.”

California passed a ban on six artificial food dyes in school foods in September 2024, effective in December 2027. West Virginia passed a ban on seven artifical food dyes in January 2025, effective August 2025; the state will have a retail ban beginning in January 2028.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A long-delayed and now dramatically scaled-down high school project will take center stage at Wednesday night’s Prince William County School Board meeting, as division officials present updated plans for the county’s 14th high school.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on June 4, 2025, at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Road in Independent Hill.

A Smaller School, Coming Later

Once designed to hold 2,557 students, the high school has been reduced to a 1,400-seat facility, according to the school division’s FY2025–29 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Its expected opening has also been delayed from School Year 2027–28 to 2029–30.

Originally envisioned as a relief valve for overcrowded high schools like Freedom, Gar-Field, and Woodbridge, the school — planned for Summit School Road in the Occoquan Magisterial District — may now fall short of easing that pressure. Officials cited budget constraints and market volatility in construction costs as reasons for the change, noting the price tag still exceeds $189 million.

Community Input Shapes Vision

Despite its smaller size, school leaders say the new high school will be shaped by robust community engagement. From March to May 2025, Prince William County Public Schools hosted workshops and listening sessions with students, parents, educators, and local industry partners.

Key input sessions included:

• A VALUES Workshop on sustainability and user experience
• An Applied Learning Workshop on career and technical education
• A Photovoice Project where students shared their lived experiences through photography
• A Learning Futures Workshop imagining a future school day
• One-on-one interviews with School Board members

Across all sessions, participants expressed a desire for hands-on learning, flexible and inclusive spaces, mental health support, and strong connections to community and careers. Design preferences included natural light, quiet study areas, and comfortable, open environments.

“This is not just about building a school — it’s about building a place where students feel they belong, where they are seen, challenged, and supported,” said one participant during the Photovoice session.

Top priorities included CTE programs in health sciences, advanced manufacturing, IT, architecture and construction, and even social media/influencing. Internships and externships with local businesses were also emphasized.

What to Expect Wednesday Night

School division leaders are expected to explain how these community-driven ideas will be incorporated into the 1,400-seat school design. The presentation may also address how the reduced size will impact school boundaries and enrollment projections, with high school enrollment forecasted to rise by 153 students in 2024.

According to the CIP, construction is slated to begin in January 2027, with substantial completion expected by May 2029. A full design plan and updated construction timeline are expected during the meeting.

The public is invited to attend or watch the meeting online. Those wishing to speak during Citizens’ Comment Time must sign up before the meeting begins.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Covington-Harper Elementary School marked a special milestone this spring as its very first students returned—this time as high school seniors.

The school, which opened in 2017, welcomed back its original group of students for a celebratory “senior walk.” The event, shared by Prince William County Public Schools on Facebook, gave graduating 12th graders a chance to visit their former elementary teachers and inspire younger students.

Located at 2500 River Heritage Boulevard near Dumfries, Covington-Harper was established to serve the area’s growing population. Since then, it has faced overcrowding. As of 2024, the school was operating at 124% capacity, with 988 students enrolled in a building designed for 796. Eight trailers have been added to accommodate the overflow.

To help ease the strain, two new elementary schools are planned in Prince William County. One near Marumsco Plaza is expected to open in the 2026–27 school year, with another in Potomac Shores following in 2027–28.

Photos: Prince William County Public Schools

STAFFORD, Va. – Happy Last Day of School, Stafford students. As families head into summer break, school leaders are urging parents to start planning for next year, as the school day for some students will kick off earlier than usual.

The 2025–26 school year starts on Monday, August 11, with a special Transition Day for students entering kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grades. All other students will return on Tuesday, August 12.

Some Elementary schools will shift to new tiered start times to improve bus reliability and help with after-school schedules. Stafford County Public Schools announced the changes will take effect in August 2025.

Here’s how the new start and end times will break down:

8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

• Falmouth
• Grafton Village
• Hampton Oaks
• Kate Waller Barrett
• Margaret Brent
• Rockhill
• Rocky Run
• Stafford
• Winding Creek

8:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

• Anne E. Moncure
• Anthony Burns
• Conway
• Ferry Farm
• Garrisonville
• Hartwood
• Park Ridge
• Widewater

Middle and high school start times will stay the same. According to Stafford County Public Schools, the changes aim to reduce bus delays and make daily routines more predictable for families.

Updated at 4 p.m.

MANASSAS, Va. – The Virginia Education Association (VEA) is calling for stronger financial controls at the Prince William Education Association (PWEA) following a sharp drop in the local union’s cash reserves—from $1.4 million to just $63,000 in two years.

A letter from VEA President Carol Bauer, shared anonymously with Potomac Local News, outlines concerns from a recent internal review. The report shows PWEA is spending $53,000 more each month than it brings in and has accumulated $692,000 in credit card charges over a 20-month period.

“At current rates, PWEA might not be able to meet its financial obligations by the end of 2025, jeopardizing effective member representation,” Bauer wrote.

Despite the financial concerns, VEA has not taken control of the local union. Instead, it’s pushing a corrective action plan that includes a VEA-funded audit, new spending limits, and tighter restrictions on investment account withdrawals.

A VEA spokesperson confirmed the organization’s involvement in a statement to Potomac Local News:

“The Virginia Education Association confirms that we have communicated with Prince William Education Association leadership and members regarding financial oversight matters… VEA remains committed to supporting PWEA members and the important work they do on behalf of educators and students in Prince William County.”

As of this report, PWEA has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Gainesville District School Board Member Jennifer Wall told Potomac Local News she’s troubled by the situation and believes union members deserve transparency and accountability.

“While I do not independently have knowledge on the issue, and know only what has been relayed publicly through VEA’s communications, these allegations, if true, cause me great concern as a member of the PWCS School Board,” Wall said. “Our thousands of employees have a right to know how the PWEA is using their hard-earned dollars. If there is any fraud, waste or abuse by the PWEA, our PWCS employees not only have a right to know about it, but they have a right to hold their union leadership accountable. If the investigation shows that there has been any fraud, waste or abuse of employee funds, I encourage members to take action.”

Wall has consistently voiced concerns about collective bargaining and the PWEA’s leadership.

“It’s no secret that I’ve been a vocal critic of collective bargaining in general, and the PWEA’s approach in particular,” she added. “I’m on the record time and again, consistently expressing my concerns about the PWEA’s leadership, for precisely these types of concerns that VEA has raised with regard to fiduciary and financial responsibilities.”

Big Win, But Ongoing Tensions

The financial concerns come just months after PWEA and Prince William County Public Schools finalized a landmark collective bargaining agreement. Approved in January and celebrated in May, the deal expanded bereavement and parental leave, improved support for teachers changing grade levels, and continued the push for better compensation.

“When our educators have adequate employee benefits, they can devote their time and energy to their students and families,” said PWEA President Maggie Hansford in a school division press release.

But tensions between VEA and PWEA have lingered. In May 2024, then-VEA President James Fedderman launched a formal probe into PWEA’s finances and governance. Hansford fired back in a mass email to members, calling the move “an attempt to control and defame our union.”

Fedderman’s term ended in July 2024. Bauer, his successor, is now leading the oversight effort.

Hansford became PWEA President in 2020 and led the union through a VEA-imposed trusteeship in 2021 following previous financial and workplace concerns. Since then, two efforts to recall her leadership have failed.

Potomac Local News will continue to follow this developing story.