STAFFORD, Va. – The window to become a new teacher in our area is closing, but school divisions are still hiring as the first day of the 2025–26 school year approaches.

In Stafford County, just over 120 licensed staff positions remained open as of late June. Of those, 98 are classroom teaching roles, while the rest include specialists like counselors. “Special education across all grades and elementary positions are our highest-need areas,” said Patrick Byrnett, the division’s Chief Talent Officer.

To fill positions, Stafford has boosted its recruitment efforts this year. The division hosted regular job fairs and information sessions for residents, partnered with Stafford County Government on a joint event, and engaged more deeply with teacher preparation programs across Virginia and nearby states. New hires will attend a week-long “Prep for Success” orientation starting July 28, which combines school-based mentoring with division-wide training in curriculum and instructional practices.

“Stafford remains a great place to live, work, and learn,” said Byrnett. “If you are someone who is a constant learner and cares about children, make Stafford a part of your story.”

In Fredericksburg City Public Schools, 21.5 licensed positions remain open, including general and special education teachers, a reading coach, an instructional coach, a school psychologist, and a speech-language pathologist. Most of the division’s staffing needs are at the elementary level, said Chief Human Resources Officer Sue Keffer.

Local job fairs have been Fredericksburg’s most effective tool for finding candidates. New hires there will attend a four-day “New Staff Academy,” which introduces them to the division’s culture and includes sessions on classroom management, special education, technology, safety, and community partnerships.

Keffer encourages interested educators to reach out. “We are a small, closely knit school community with many supports in place to help our staff be successful,” she said.

School begins in early August for many local divisions. Those interested in applying should check their school division’s website for the latest openings.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Walker-Grant Middle School is among just 220 schools nationwide selected to receive a $5,000 grant from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.

The Fredericksburg school was chosen from applicants in 38 states to receive part of more than $1 million awarded this year. The funds will allow Walker-Grant Middle School to enhance its library offerings by purchasing new graphic novels, books in multiple languages, and updating its collection of essays.

The Laura Bush Foundation focuses on helping school libraries with the greatest need and aims to cultivate a love of reading among students. Since its launch in 2002, the foundation has provided $23 million in funding to more than 4,000 schools across the country.

Included in the list of highlighted titles for this year are I Loved You First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, and First Ladies Make History by Anita and Giovanna McBride. A copy of First Ladies Make History will be donated to every elementary school that has received a grant from the foundation since it began.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Do you know which elementary school your child will attend next year? 📚

Fredericksburg City Public Schools has released a newly approved elementary school zone map that will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year. In a Facebook post, the school division encouraged families to explore the changes, share the news with others, and prepare for what’s ahead.

The rezoning process began with a proposal shared on September 9, 2024, which was shaped by 2023-24 enrollment data. After several months of review and community feedback, school leaders refined the plan to better reflect updated projections and priorities like neighborhood unity, equity, and demographic balance.

The final zones assign students to Hugh Mercer (Central), Lafayette (West), or Gladys West (East) elementary schools, each with a diverse student population. Key considerations included ensuring fair representation of Special Education students, English Language Learners, and families from varying economic backgrounds.

According to school officials, this change aims to foster more balanced, inclusive learning environments citywide. You can view the new map and demographic breakdowns for each school here.

Three young men are dead, and four others — including three juveniles — now face charges following a violent shooting tied to an illegal gun sale and robbery in Spotsylvania County.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office announced today that investigators have charged four individuals with Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Unlawful Assembly. The suspects include two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Upson, whose photo was released by the Sheriff’s Office. One of the 16-year-olds is currently being treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound and will be taken into custody upon discharge.

According to Major Elizabeth Scott, two of the suspects are from Spotsylvania County, and the other two are residents of Caroline County. Three of the suspects are currently being held without bond.

The incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, when deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Olde Greenwich Circle, just outside Fredericksburg. Upon arrival, law enforcement found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victims were identified as:

• Chase Feaster, 18, of Spotsylvania County
• Alonzo Goffney, 18, of Spotsylvania County
• A 20-year-old male whose identity is being withheld pending confirmation by the Medical Examiner’s Office
• Three additional individuals were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Investigators say the shooting stemmed from an illegal gun transaction that escalated into a robbery. “We commend our detectives on bringing this tragedy to a closure,” said Major Scott. She also thanked the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police for their assistance, along with community members who provided support during what she described as a “stressful and heartbreaking” time.

The incident prompted Fredericksburg City Public Schools to operate on a two-hour delay today, April 9, out of an abundance of caution.

The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward.

This is a developing story. Check back with Potomac Local News for updates.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools will open two hours late on Wednesday, April 9, in response to a mass shooting that left three people dead and three others hospitalized Tuesday evening in neighboring Spotsylvania County.

School officials announced the delayed opening late Tuesday, citing the “profound impact this incident has had on members of our school community.”

“We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this together,” the division said in a statement.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the area of Olde Greenwich Circle, just off Lafayette Boulevard. Deputies with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire and found six people suffering from gunshot wounds. Three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were taken to area hospitals. Their conditions have not been released.

Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains “active and fluid,” and no suspects have been arrested. A large police presence continues in the area as detectives work to determine what led to the deadly shooting.

“We are urging members of the public to avoid the Olde Greenwich Circle area while our investigation continues,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The names and ages of the victims have not been released.

Potomac Local News will continue to follow this developing story.

A new agreement between the City of Fredericksburg and its public school system will open school gymnasiums and facilities to the public, expanding access to recreation programs for children, teens, and families.

On Tuesday night, City Council unanimously approved a shared-use agreement with Fredericksburg City Public Schools that gives the Parks, Recreation, and Events Department expanded access to school buildings, including the former Walker-Grant School, now Gladys West Elementary.

The agreement allows the city to use the facility from 4 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and weekends for programs ranging from youth athletics to teen engagement initiatives.

“This really opens up an opportunity for us to expand our programming—not only to take care of existing needs and waitlists, but also to reach different audiences, such as teens and after-school activities,” said Todd Brown, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Events.

Brown first floated the idea a year ago when speaking with city leaders. “If I just had a gym, I could do programming from 5 a.m. to midnight,” Brown said, echoing his conversation with Councilor Jannan Holmes.

Mayor Kerry P. Devine praised the agreement, calling it a “great shared use of space” that will put underutilized facilities to work during non-school hours. “It allows the facility to be used more extensively by the public in the after-school hours,” she said. “Our goal is to make sure our teens are occupied in productive ways.”

Councilor Jonathan A. Gerlach reflected on his experience with summer basketball programs and stressed how important they can be in shaping young lives. “Some of us got scholarships to play ball in college. Who knows if we would’ve gotten those opportunities without a summer program?” he said.

Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. connected the agreement to broader budget concerns. “We’re making moves in the city to take care of what we need to do right now,” he said. “It shows the point that we still need a recreation facility, but this agreement helps bridge the gap.”

Councilors applauded the collaboration between the city and the school division, noting that sharing facilities is a smart way to maximize taxpayer investment without building new infrastructure.

The new Gladys West Elementary School will replace the aging Walker-Grant building as part of a facilities realignment in the city. With younger students not using the gymnasium space in the evenings, the city will now use it to benefit the broader community.

“This is a win-win for Fredericksburg,” said Holmes. “It gives our residents access to more resources and shows what’s possible when departments work together.”

Updated 7 p.m.  – All Fredericksburg City Public Schools were closed Friday after a missing juvenile from Fairfax County, identified as Safar Fasihullah, 16, was spotted trespassing at James Monroe High School earlier in the week. The teen has since been taken into custody in Florence, New Jersey, according to police.

At 5:05 p.m., the Fredericksburg Police Department announced Fasihullah’s arrest.
“We want to thank the public for your patience and assistance,” the department stated.

The closure of schools Friday was a precautionary measure after the FBI’s Washington Field Office informed Fredericksburg Police on Thursday evening that Fasihullah may be in the city. Local authorities recognized the teen from the March 19 incident at the high school, where he fled the campus after being approached by a School Resource Officer.

Working with the FBI, police followed numerous leads throughout the day Friday, all of which initially turned up empty. Investigators believe Fasihullah stole a vehicle in Stafford County late Thursday evening, which was later recovered out of state on Friday afternoon.

Despite the heightened concern, police said their investigation found no direct threat to the Fredericksburg City Public School system.

Fasihullah had been wanted for trespassing on school property, and his presence on campus earlier in the week raised concerns due to his mental state and status as a missing person from Northern Virginia.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools serves around 3,700 students across five schools:

Walker-Grant Early Childhood Learning Center
Lafayette Elementary School
Walker-Grant Elementary Campus
Walker-Grant Middle School
James Monroe High School
It remains unclear whether schools will reopen Monday. The school division has not yet issued an updated statement.

This is a developing story. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody presented the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget proposal to the City Council on March 11. The proposal outline a $136.75 million spending plan to strengthen public schools, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure long-term financial stability.

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In mid-February, Peter Mealy headed to the Walker Grant Middle School PTA meeting in Fredericksburg to speak about his latest venture teaching guitar to students after school at Walker Grant and hopefully enlarging the program in one form or another.

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A winter storm bringing snow and strong winds will force schools in Stafford County, Fredericksburg City, and Spotsylvania County to close on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Stafford County Public Schools will be closed, with all 12-month staff operating on a two-hour delay. As a result of this closure, Friday, March 21, 2025, will now be a regular, full instructional day for students to make up for the lost classroom time.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) will also be closed on February 20. It will be a Code Blue/Remote Learning Day. Students should not report to school but should participate in teacher-planned learning opportunities. All employees should work from home. Essential workers should contact their supervisor for report times.

All Spotsylvania County Public Schools are closed Thursday, February 20, 2025. CODE 3: Remote learning day for students. 12-month employees CODE 1.

Weather Forecast 

According to the National Weather Service, a widespread band of snow showers is expected to push through the region Thursday morning, coinciding with the morning rush hour. This precipitation is associated with a potent upper-level trough moving through the area in the afternoon. Light snow accumulations are likely, with most areas expected to see less than an inch. However, given the frigid temperatures—ranging from the teens to the low 20s—slick spots on roads could create hazardous commuting conditions. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued.

Winds will increase significantly as the system departs Thursday afternoon, with gusts reaching 30 to 50 mph, particularly in higher elevations. While wind advisories have not yet been issued, further updates may be necessary. Wind chills may approach Cold Weather Advisory criteria along the Allegheny Ridge, prompting additional weather precautions.

Parents and staff are encouraged to monitor official school communications for any further updates regarding schedule changes or additional closures.