On Tuesday, April. 5, School Board Chairman At-large Dr. Babur Lateef will present its 2022-23 operating budget during the Board of County Supervisors’ 7:30 p.m. meeting.
The school’s proposed $1.4 billion budget is $187.2 million larger than a year ago. It includes $80 million to furnish teachers and staff with a 4.2 percent cost of living adjustment and a step increase, resulting in an average pay increase of 7 percent.
(The Center Square) – Ten Virginia school districts will be allowed to impose limited mask mandates to accommodate students who have disabilities pending the outcome of a lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s prohibition on public school mask mandates.
A federal judge approved an injunction against the governor’s mask mandate prohibition for 12 students with disabilities who reside in 10 different school districts. The judge ruled the students represented in the lawsuit could ask their schools to impose mask mandates in areas of the school they frequent and schools will be allowed to enforce them without penalties from the state.
Artwork from students across Stafford County will be on display.
Stafford County Public Schools will host its 46th Annual Fine and Performing Arts Festival on March 26 and 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
The School Board seeks two student representatives and an alternate to provide input and insight for the 2022-23 school year. Student representatives are non-voting members and serve for one term concluding with the final School Board meeting of the school year.
Their role focuses on providing input on School Board meeting agenda items on behalf of their fellow students.
This budget increase will also fund higher wages for certified/instructional and classified employee pay scales. The school division says that county teacher salaries will be more competitive as a result of these adjustments.
The School Board-approved budget hinges on estimated funding from the state — Richmond lawmakers will reconvene soon in hopes to hammer out a new budget. The school budget also assumes the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will approve its proposed $1.5 billion budget, which includes a new meals tax customers will pay at eateries across the county, in addition to sales tax.
The Northern Neck Vegetable Growers Association will provide $10,000 in scholarship funds this year. Students from Stafford County are encouraged to apply.
The association will offer five scholarships totaling $10,000 to deserving area youth studying agriculture. Eligible applicants must live in one of the following counties: Caroline, Essex, Hanover, Gloucester, King George, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Westmoreland.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Fairfax, Prince William] announces a new data center lab at the Northern Virginia Community College Woodbridge Campus. [Photo: Rick Horner][/caption]