Schools - Page 127 of 218 - Potomac Local News

Prince William, Manassas school boards to meet next week, discuss fall reopenings

Published July 2, 2020 at 10:33PM

The wait is nearly over for those seeking an answer regarding the reopening of schools in Prince William County and Manassas.

On July 7 and 8, both school boards will hold separate meetings to hear community input on the reopening of their school divisions, review survey data collected from their staff and school communities, and discuss the matter, according to press releases from both school divisions. Manassas is set to vote on their reopening plans on July 14, and Prince William is set to do the same on July 15.

Manassas School Board reaffirms LGBT policy for students, staff

By Arabella Thornhill

Published July 2, 2020 at 10:21PM

A Manassas City Public Schools bus. Photo: Potomac Local file

Manassas City School Board approved a new LGBT proclamation condemning racism that will ensure students and staff will be treated equally.

On June 23, the Manassas City School Board presented the LGBT proclamation, which has been reviewed and approved annually since 2017, approving the document in a 7-0 vote.

Stonewall high, middle schools renamed Unity Reed, Unity Braxton, respectively

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 29, 2020 at 11:43PM

Goodbye Stonewall Jackson, hello Unity Braxton and Unity Reed.

During its June 29 meeting, the Prince William County School Board voted to rename Stonewall Jackson Senior High School to Unity Reed High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School to Unity Braxton Middle School. These names were chosen out of over 775 submissions from community residents.

Letter: “What is school going to be like if students need to practice social distancing?”

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 29, 2020 at 11:36PM

Potomac Local News received a letter from an incoming 7th grader regarding social distancing in schools.

Greetings,

Stafford prohibits employees’ use of personal accounts to communicate with students, student use of cellphones

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 26, 2020 at 1:44AM | Updated June 26, 2020 at 2:01AM

School may be out of session, but Stafford County teachers have been given new rules to follow.

During their June 23 school board meeting, the Stafford County School Board unanimously approved revisions to the school division’s Standard of Professional Conduct for All Employees, which ‘sets forth expectations for employee behavior both in and outside the workplace, as well as with students in-person and remote,’ according to school board documentation.

Arthur Reed, Ibram X. Kendi, Lucinda Griffin, among popular suggestions for the renaming of Stonewall Jackson middle and high schools

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 26, 2020 at 1:37AM

The new names of Stonewall Jackson Middle and High Senior schools are not yet known. But the Prince William County community has plenty of suggestions.

On June 22 and 25, the Prince William County School Board held community input sessions, allowing residents to suggest new names for both schools, located near Manassas, to the schools’ naming committees.

Prince William adds 2nd public hearing for Stonewall Jackson schools renaming

By Uriah Kiser

Published June 22, 2020 at 4:43PM

Residents in Prince William County are being given a second opportunity to speak about a proposed name change for Stonewall Jackson Senior High, and Stonewall Middle schools.

The second meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, and the details on this meeting are contained further down in this post.

Stonewall Jackson Senior High School has 3rd-lowest graduation rate, while leaders aim to change its name

By Uriah Kiser

Published June 19, 2020 at 12:28PM | Updated June 19, 2020 at 1:03PM

In his plan to combat racism released on June 5, Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts said it is time to rename Stonewall Jackson Senior High and Middle schools.

The schools, both located near Manassas — the site of the first battle of the Civil War in 1861 — are named for Jackson, a native Virginian who fought for the Confederacy, and is widely regarded by historians as one of the greatest military generals serve any nation.

Stafford approves purchase of 9,000 Chromebooks, allowing all students to have a device

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 18, 2020 at 10:39AM

Stafford County has enabled all of its students to have an electronic device for the next school year.

On June 16, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of 9,000 Chromebooks for students, a motion that has been in the works for months. Funding for the $1.1 million purchase will likely come from the CARES Act.

Stafford looks into new electronic communications policy

By Susie Webb

Published June 14, 2020 at 11:06AM

Stafford County Public Schools Alvin York Bandy Complex, the headquarters of the school division.

The Stafford County School Board is looking to pass a new policy on employee conduct, including regulations for electronic communications with students.

Under this policy, employees are allowed to engage in electronic communication with students on school-approved platforms for “legitimate purposes connected to school programs or services,” the policy outlines.