Osbourn Park High School has received the Virginia School Breakfast Award from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for its success in expanding breakfast access, maintaining nutritional integrity, and serving more scratch-cooked meals. The school is one of three recipients this year.
Cafeteria manager Nidia Bruno expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the team’s dedication to feeding students. Andrea Early, director of Food and Nutrition, noted that breakfast participation at Osbourn Park has increased by 30% and praised the cafeteria team for efficiently managing the expanded program. The school benefits from the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.
PWCS has seen a district-wide increase of 2,000 more breakfasts served per day compared to last year. The menu includes hot and cold options, along with seasonal smoothies for middle and high school students. VDOE officials will visit Osbourn Park during School Breakfast Week in March to present the award.
More in a press release:
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) awarded Osbourn Park High School with the Virginia School Breakfast Award. This award recognizes schools achieving success in school breakfast, including expanding breakfast access to students, maintaining the nutritional integrity of foods offered, and serving more scratch-cooked foods. Osbourn Park High was one of three recipients this year.
Nidia Bruno, cafeteria manager at Osbourn Park, shared her excitement surrounding the award. “I feel so thankful and so happy for my team. We all work so hard and being recognized like this keeps us going,” Bruno shared. “At the end of the day, the most important thing for us is to feed our kids at Osbourn Park. We have a good family here.”
Andrea Early, director of Food and Nutrition, said Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is serving more breakfasts per day compared to last year with Osbourn Park seeing an increase in breakfast participation by about 30%.
“All of our schools in PWCS do such a fabulous job with breakfast service. We are serving about 2,000 more breakfasts per day this year compared to last year,” Early said.
She commended the Osbourn Park cafeteria team for ensuring a smooth breakfast process for students.
“Nidia and her team have really responded to this school being added to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program,” Early shared. “CEP means that all students receive free breakfast and lunch but if they have to wait in long lines, they may not access breakfast. This team has worked hard to open extra breakfast lines so that they can get kids the good nutrition they need.”
Along with expanding the breakfast program, PWCS school breakfast menus offer a wide range of choices such as hot and cold food options and a seasonal smoothie for middle and high school students.
Members of the VDOE plan to visit Osbourn Park to present the award during School Breakfast Week, which is held the first week of March.
A significant component of this year’s budget is a $1.098 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), aiming to address overcrowding, modernize aging facilities, and support long-term student enrollment shifts.
Major Investments in New Schools and Renovations
The CIP includes multiple new school construction projects, such as:
- Occoquan Replacement School (December 2025) – Will add 226 seats and offer specialized programs for students with special education and autism support needs.
- Woodbridge Area Elementary School (2026-2027) – Will serve approximately 632 students in the Cardinal and Neabsco Mills Districts, where overcrowding is a pressing concern.
- Potomac Shores Elementary School #2 (2027-2028) – Planned capacity increased from 750 to 1,050 seats to accommodate rapid growth in the Potomac Shores area.
- 14th High School (2029-2030) – Will serve 1,400 students and provide relief for Colgan, Forest Park, and Freedom High Schools. Community engagement sessions starting in February will help determine specialized programs, such as robotics labs, aquatic drone research, and a school-based health clinic.
Additionally, several existing schools will receive major renovations and expansions to improve infrastructure and reduce reliance on portable classrooms. Dale City Elementary School, identified as one of the most outdated facilities, is slated for a comprehensive renovation, including an eight-classroom expansion, mechanical upgrades, and ADA compliance improvements. Other significant projects include an expansion at Marsteller Middle School, Fred Lynn Middle School renovations, and county-wide HVAC and LED lighting upgrades.
Sustainability and Modernization Initiatives
PWCS is also investing in sustainability and infrastructure improvements, with over $81 million earmarked for HVAC replacements in 14 schools and nearly $15.5 million allocated for LED lighting upgrades. Additionally, solar panel installations and the construction of artificial turf practice fields at multiple high schools are planned to enhance energy efficiency and equity in athletic facilities.
Historic Wage Agreement
In a related development, PWCS and the Prince William Education Association (PWEA) have reached a historic wage agreement totaling more than $160 million over two years. This agreement underscores the division’s commitment to valuing its employees and offering regionally competitive pay.
Key aspects of the agreement include:
- A two-year wage deal providing an average 7% increase in the first year and an average 6.3% increase in the second year.
- Decompression of the certified wage scale to ensure employees are placed on steps commensurate with their years of experience.
- Significant increases in starting wages for teachers, positioning PWCS as a regional leader in teacher compensation.
- Targeted stipends for specific roles, including IEP case management, dually certified English Language teachers, and Elementary Strings Teachers.
- Doubling the night shift pay differential for classified staff.
- Reclassification of certain classified positions to higher grades to ensure competitive pay.
- Ensuring all PWCS supplements are at or above the median for the regional comparative study.
McDade emphasized, “This wage proposal is a testament to PWCS’s commitment to its strategic plan, ensuring that our employees feel valued and are compensated competitively within the region.”
Comparison to Previous Year’s Budget
The proposed FY 2026 budget builds upon the initiatives outlined in the FY 2025 budget. Last year, the School Board approved a $1.78 billion operating budget that prioritized investments aligned with the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan. Approximately 80% of expenditures supported the instructional core: students, staff, and curriculum. Notably, employees received an average 6% pay increase, contributing to a cumulative 28.2% increase in average teacher salaries over five years. The budget also allocated funds for 125 new teacher assistants for students with special needs, 23 kindergarten teacher assistants, and 15.5 reading specialists.
Challenges and Community Involvement
Despite its ambitious scope, the CIP faces challenges related to fluctuating student enrollment, redistricting considerations, and rising construction costs due to inflation and potential tariffs on building materials. The school board will evaluate funding options to navigate these hurdles, including bond issuances and proffers from new developments.
Residents will have opportunities to provide feedback during public hearings in February, with the final budget approval expected in March 2025.
Key Projects in the CIP
New School Constructions
To address overcrowding in high-growth areas, PWCS will build multiple new schools, including:
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As Prince William County grapples with shifting enrollment patterns, declining birth rates, and increasing school capacity concerns, school leaders are moving forward with plans to open the county’s 14th high school in the 2029-30 school year.
The new school, which may feature specialized programs such as robotics and drone labs, is intended to relieve overcrowding in central and eastern Prince William County high schools, including Colgan, Freedom, and Woodbridge. However, with fewer students entering the school system than graduating, the long-term necessity of the new school and countywide redistricting remains a topic of debate.
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Rania Lateef, a senior at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School and the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park, daughter of Prince William School Board Chairman Babur Lateef, has been named one of 40 finalists in the prestigious 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS).
Selected from nearly 2,500 applicants nationwide, Rania is recognized for her groundbreaking research on the effects of artificial light and circadian disruption on biobehavioral systems in Drosophila melanogaster. Her work highlights the impact of sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances on physical and mental health.
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Prince William County School Board member Richard Jessie and his wife, former school board member Lillie Jessie, are urging the community to boycott the upcoming presidential inauguration by turning off their televisions at noon on January 20. They believe that lower viewership will send a strong message to the new administration.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump secured a historic return to the White House, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump won 312 electoral votes to Harris's 226, marking a significant political comeback.
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Insidenova.com: “Patriot High School Principal Michael Bishop is currently on leave, the school announced Thursday in a message to families.
Prince William County Public Schools did not provide further details upon  InsideNoVa’s request as it is a “personnel matter,” said Director of Communications Diana Gulotta.”
Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions. Here is the full list of updates:
Prince William County:
All Prince William County Public Schools will be closed under Code Green for students and teachers.
– 250-day employees and pay grade 13 and above report at 10 a.m.
– The closure will allow VDOT additional time to clear secondary and neighborhood roads to ensure bus safety.
Stafford County:
Stafford County Public Schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to ongoing adverse weather conditions.
– All activities and events scheduled are canceled.
Manassas City:
Manassas City Schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– Code BLUE for employees.
Manassas Park:
All Manassas Park schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to remaining snow and ice.
Spotsylvania County:
Spotsylvania County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– Code 2: 12-month employees report two hours late as safety permits.
– Essential personnel should report at specified times.
– All school-sponsored activities, including student externships, are canceled.
Fredericksburg City:
Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to road conditions and low temperatures.
– Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until the afternoon.
Fairfax County:
All Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
– School offices and central offices will open to the public at 11 a.m.
King George County:
King George County Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather conditions.
– Code 2: 12-month employees report at 10 a.m.
– Liberal leave will be in effect.
Colleges and Universities:
– Germanna Community College:
All Germanna locations will open at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, due to challenging road conditions.
– Northern Virginia Community College:
Normal operations under Code Green for Wednesday, January 8, 2025. All campuses and services are open.
Prince William County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed Code Red on Tuesday. Inclement Weather Employees are the exception and should follow their assigned schedule.
Stafford County Public Schools
Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to adverse weather and an extended winter storm warning. All activities and events scheduled for the day are canceled. Tuesday was originally a professional learning day, so students were not scheduled to attend.
Manassas City Public Schools
Schools and offices will be closed Tuesday. Code BLUE is in effect for employees.
Fredericksburg City Public Schools
Schools will be closed, and buildings will remain closed as crews work on clearing parking lots and sidewalks. Essential personnel will be contacted by their supervisors for report times.
Manassas Park City Schools Closure for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
All Manassas Park City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, due to snowy conditions. **Code RED** is in effect for employees.
King George County Schools
Schools will be closed Tuesday. Code 1 is in effect for 12-month employees.
Fairfax County Public Schools
All schools and central offices will be closed on Tuesday.
University of Mary Washington
All UMW campuses, including Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Dahlgren, will be closed all day Tuesday following the January 6 snowstorm.
Germanna Community College: Due to inclement weather, all Germanna locations will be closed on Tuesday, January 7.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Code Purple for Tuesday, January 7, 2025. All NOVA campuses are operating virtually, with classes and services available online only.
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Code 1 is in effect—essential personnel should report to perform emergency services as necessary. All school-sponsored activities, including student externships, are canceled.
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), the second-largest school division in Virginia, announced the closure of all schools and offices for Monday, January 6, 2025, due to a Winter Storm Warning. The announcement, posted on the division’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, stated, “Due to Winter Storm Warning, all Prince William County Public Schools and Offices will be closed Code Red on Monday, January 6, 2025 (exception: Inclement Weather Employees). Weather conditions will be monitored throughout Monday, and an update will be provided as needed.”
The closure affects over 90,000 students enrolled across the division’s 100 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools and specialty programs. PWCS serves a diverse and growing population, providing academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities for students in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Under the Code Red designation, only designated inclement weather employees are required to report to work. The school division emphasized that it will continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the day on Monday and provide further updates if necessary.
Parents, students, and staff are encouraged to check the PWCS website and social media accounts for additional information regarding the resumption of regular operations.
