Daniel W. Smith

Stafford

Stafford Staff Roll to Casino for ‘Team-Building’ While Taxpayers Foot Higher Bills

By Uriah Kiser

A staff-only trip to The Rose Gaming Resort on school buses has put Stafford County Public Schools on the defensive, with the division insisting that no taxpayer dollars were spent, while a supervisor argues that the outing reveals misplaced priorities.

The August 3, 2026 outing has drawn scrutiny for its optics and limited transparency at a time of rising real estate taxes and debate over a potential new local sales tax for school projects.

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Schools

Stafford Schools Seek More County Funds

By Uriah Kiser
Smith

Stafford County Public Schools leaders began the FY27 budget process with a funding request that would require additional county support to operate new schools and raise employee pay.

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Schools

Stafford Scores Rise as Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Struggle on Reading Tests

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Students across Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania saw mixed results on this year’s Standards of Learning (SOL) reading tests, according to data released this week by the Virginia Department of Education.

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News

No Opt-In, No Ride: Stafford County Reimagines School Transportation

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford County Public Schools is moving fast to resolve its ongoing transportation crisis. A new two-tier bus system and opt-in transportation policy will debut in Fall 2025.

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News

Meet Dr. Daniel W. Smith — Listening, Learning, and Leading Stafford County Schools Forward

By Uriah Kiser
Smith

When Dr. Daniel W. Smith started his new role as Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools on December 9, 2024, he didn’t come in with plans to make sweeping changes overnight. Instead, he saw an opportunity to listen.

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News

Stafford Schools Warn of ‘Devastating’ Cuts After Youngkin Veto

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin on Friday defended his decision to veto a bill that would have let Stafford County voters decide whether to raise the local sales tax by one cent to help pay for school construction.

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News

Stafford Schools to Require Opt-In for Bus Transportation Amid Efforts to Fix System Failures

By Uriah Kiser

Families in Stafford County must now opt-in to receive school bus transportation for the 2025–26 academic year—a major change prompted by last year’s transportation meltdown that left thousands of students without a ride to school.

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Stafford

Stafford Schools Superintendent Daniel W. Smith Announces Community Meet-and-Greet Sessions

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Daniel W. Smith has announced plans to host a series of meet-and-greet sessions across the county, allowing families to connect with him and share their educational perspectives.

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