Stafford

Stafford schools to dump trailers as enrollment drops

By Uriah Kiser
Trailers at Park Ridge Elementary School in North Stafford

Stafford County Public Schools is advancing a phased reduction of its 60 elementary modular classrooms—installed between 2021 and 2024 to accommodate a surge in student enrollment—as updated November 2025 projections reflect slower future growth and a rare recent one-year decline.

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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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Buc-ee’s Hearing Deferred Again at Stafford Planning Commission, Stage Set for Other Zoning Debates

By Uriah Kiser

A hearing on the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center has been deferred for a second time at the Stafford County Planning Commission, shifting the public hearing from January to March 25, 2026.

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Egg Hunts, Reptiles and Free Movies: Stafford Parks’ Spring Lineup

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford Parks and Recreation is gearing up for a fun-filled spring with a lineup of family-friendly special events designed to entertain kids and parents alike. From egg hunts to reptile encounters and sensory-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in the coming weeks.

Families looking for engaging ways to spend time together should mark their calendars and register soon—these popular programs tend to fill up quickly.

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Stafford County Schools Adjust Calendar for April 21 Special Election on Congressional Redistricting

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]

In a letter sent to families, Superintendent Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D., explained that the Stafford County Board of Elections designated 22 schools as polling sites for the statewide special election, prompting the need to swap instructional days.

The superintendent noted that the division learned only recently that the election would proceed as planned, limiting the ability to provide earlier notice.

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Your Water Bill Could Rise: Stafford Advances Rate Increases While Data Centers Help Pay for New Pipes

By Uriah Kiser

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized advertising public hearings on March 3, 2026, for proposed adjustments to water, sewer, and reclaimed water rates, including new fees designed to recover costs from data center-related infrastructure while introducing equity measures for commercial users.

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Virginia Health Department Partially Lifts Potomac River Advisory

By Uriah Kiser

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that it is partially lifting a recreational water advisory for the Potomac River, effective immediately.

The change applies to the stretch from the Route 120 Chain Bridge to the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (Route 301) in King George County, which includes key local areas in Woodbridge and Stafford. This development comes after weeks of monitoring following a major sewage spill upstream, providing relief to residents and businesses reliant on the river for recreation.

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Sudden Closure of Concerted Care Group’s Stafford Clinic Leaves Patients Scrambling for Services

By Uriah Kiser

The Concerted Care Group (CCG) clinic in Stafford County, a key provider of opioid addiction treatment and behavioral health services, has abruptly closed its doors, according to a tip received by Potomac Local News today. Photos provided by the tipster show a permanent closure notice posted on the facility’s entrance, effective as of February 13, 2026, just weeks ago.

The clinic, located at 282 Deacon Road, Suite 107, in the Woodlawn Shopping Center, served residents in Stafford County and surrounding areas with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders, including methadone dispensing, as well as mental health support.

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Virginia’s Unfunded Mandates Drive Stafford’s Proposed 6-Cent Real Estate Tax Increase, Officials Say

By Uriah Kiser

On March 3, 2026, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 to advertise a real estate tax rate of $0.985 per $100 of assessed value for calendar year 2026 — an increase of six cents from the current $0.9236 rate — plus a modest rise in the fire and emergency services levy to $0.014 from $0.0131.

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Stafford Shields Data Centers from Tax Hike, Targets Homeowners

By Uriah Kiser

While advertising a six-cent increase in the real estate tax rate to $0.985 per $100 of assessed value for calendar year 2026—potentially adding about $430 annually to the average household bill—the Stafford County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to raise the personal property tax rate on data center computer equipment and peripherals from $1.25 to $2.50 per $100 of assessed value during its March 3, 2026 meeting.

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