Schools

Prince William Music Admin Honored with State Award

By Caitlyn Meisner
Annamarie Bollino, Ph.D. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]

Bollino has been in music education for more than 20 years, the majority of which has been with Stafford County Public Schools. According to her LinkedIn page, she joined PWCS in February.

“I am honored to be recognized for my leadership. Music and the arts are intricately woven into the very fabric of who I am and how I lead; they have profoundly shaped my identity, and I draw on these deep-rooted passions to ensure that our PWCS students have access to the same enriching opportunities and transformative experiences that have molded me into the person I am today,” she said.

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Gar-Field High School Plumbing Teacher Wins National Award

By Caitlyn Meisner
Michael Carter is the first high school teacher to receive this award. [Courtesy of Prince William County Schools]

Michael Carter, a plumbing teacher at Woodbridge’s Gar-Field High School, was recently named the 2024 Plumbing Instructor of the Year by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC).

PHCC was founded in 1883 and has more than 125 state and local affiliates across the country. In Virginia, there is one state association and two local, one of which is based in Northern Virginia.

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Manassas City School Board Approves Earlier School Year Starts

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Matheus Bertelli via Pexels]

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Stafford County School Board Discusses High School Redistricting Scenarios

By Uriah Kiser

The Stafford County School Board is evaluating five scenarios for redistricting its high schools, aiming to address overcrowding, transportation inefficiencies, and community concerns. The school board held a public hearing on high school redistricting at its Tuesday, December 10 meeting. The discussions, which have drawn public input, focus on balancing capacity projections with operational feasibility and maintaining community stability.

Schools Facing Significant Changes

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$73M Approved Plan Includes New Dean School, Metz Middle School Upgrades

By Uriah Kiser

At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City School Board approved the fiscal year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which outlines significant facility and resource investments to improve the district’s educational environment.

The Board unanimously passed the $73 million plan. It includes several projects aimed at upgrading school facilities, addressing maintenance needs and creating more engaging spaces for learning. A notable addition is the installation of new bleachers at Metz Middle School.

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Drew Middle School Rebuild Sparks Debate Over $16 Million Cost Increase

By Uriah Kiser

The planned rebuild of Drew Middle School in Stafford County is moving forward amid discussions about a $16 million increase in costs. The updated total is now $113 million, up from the originally approved $96.5 million in the county’s Capital Improvement Plan.

The additional costs are attributed to land acquisition, off-site infrastructure improvements, and increased contingency funding.

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Prince William County School Board Approves New Cell Phone Policy Amidst Debate

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade reads to students at Haymarket Elementary School. [Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

Under the new policy, students must store their cell phones in lockers or designated areas during school hours, a measure aimed at fostering greater focus and reducing distractions. Exceptions are made for medical needs and approved educational uses.

The policy represents a shift toward stricter regulations, replacing the previous system that allowed limited use during non-instructional periods such as lunch and class changes.

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Prince William County School Board Approves 2025-2026 Calendar

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Graphic courtesy of Prince William County Schools]

The Board approved Option A, which has students starting school on Aug. 19 and finishing on June 12. Teacher workdays in this option begin on Aug. 11 and all major holidays — including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Presidents Day and Memorial Day, to name a few — will be observed.

According to a PWCS news release on Nov. 20, the first day of school may be moved to Aug. 18 depending on the Board’s decision in January to revise its own policy to observe Eid al-Adha — one of the major holidays in Islam — which falls on May 26 and May 27 in 2026. PWCS already observes Eid al-Fitr, the other official Islamic holiday.

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