Raina Chan has a knack for singing - a knack her parents noticed when she was just two years old. From performing the national anthem at several capital area-area sports events to singing at the Philippine president’s visit to Washington, D.C. in 2023, Chan has wowed audiences for years.

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Stafford County Public Schools press release: Brooke Point High School’s Community Health and Medical Professions (CHAMP) center is thrilled to announce the generous donation of an ambulance from LifeCare Medical Transport. This donation will enhance hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare and emergency services.

“As a company deeply rooted in serving our community, we are honored to donate this ambulance to the CHAMP center at Brooke Point High School,” said Michael Russell, LifeCare’s Director of Communications. “We believe in investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals, and we are excited to see how this resource will empower students to pursue their passions and make a meaningful difference in the world.”

The ambulance will serve as a valuable resource for students enrolled in the CHAMP program. Through practical application and real-world simulations, students will gain invaluable experience in emergency medical procedures, patient care, and teamwork. This hands-on approach not only enhances students’ technical skills but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills essential for success in the healthcare field.

“We are incredibly grateful to LifeCare for their generous donation of an ambulance to our CHAMP center,” said Brooke Point HS Principal Joe Murgo. “This invaluable resource will foster the confidence and competence needed for success in healthcare and emergency services careers. Our students will be able to practice things like conducting CPR while the ambulance is actually moving. There really isn’t a better symbol of this important community partnership than an actual, functioning ambulance.”

The CHAMP center at Brooke Point High School is dedicated to providing students with unique opportunities to explore careers in healthcare and emergency services through mentorship and rigorous coursework. With the addition of the ambulance donated by LifeCare, students will have access to enhanced learning opportunities that will prepare them for success in their chosen fields.

“This ambulance represents more than just a vehicle; it’s a gateway to immersive learning for CHAMP students. By engaging in real-life scenarios and practical applications, students will not only refine technical skills but also develop critical thinking, teamwork, and communication abilities essential in emergency medical settings,” said Dr. Thomas W. Taylor, Superintendent. “We are grateful for LifeCare’s partnership and their dedication to supporting student learning.”

Stafford County Public Schools press release: The Stafford County School Board adopted a $457.9M FY25 provisional operating budget during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9.

The provisional budget remains focused on correcting both the service and licensed staff salary scales through the Implementation of Phase I of the service scale correction, Phase III of the licensed scale correction, and correction of the instructional support scale.

“We remain a system of people, not things,” said Mrs. Maureen Siegmund, chair, Stafford County School Board. “This provisional budget allows us to provide our service staff with an average 8.7% salary increase, licensed staff with a 5.2% average salary increase, and provide our paraprofessional with an average salary increase of 9%.”

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors provided $13M in new revenue to the schools; $2M short of the amount requested by the School Board. The resulting $457.9M provisional operating budget addresses $8.6M in adjustments to the base budget and $16.6M in non-discretionary expenses – those that allow the district to keep its doors open.

The Board of Supervisors also approved funding for Elementary School 19, a rebuild of Edward E. Drew MS, and allocated $14.5 for overdue repairs and maintenance of school buildings. The Board of Supervisors also reaffirmed its funding for constructing Elementary School 18, and High School 6, partly addressing rapid growth.

A majority of school funding, more than 60%, is provided through State funding. The School Board will revisit and adopt a final budget after the state government adopts its final budget later this summer. If additional funding is provided from the State, the School Board may have the opportunity to make additional increases in staffing and staff compensation.

For more information regarding the School Board’s Adopted FY25 provisional budget visit staffordschools.net/FY25Budget.

Stafford County Public Schools press release: Dr. Lisa Coons, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, visited with students and staff at Grafton Village Elementary School (GVES) this morning.

During her visit, she engaged in discussions surrounding the importance of student mental health and addressing meaningful methods to battle chronic absenteeism, visited classrooms, and read Shelly Becker’s Even Superheroes Have a Bad Day to a second grade classroom.

Recognizing the pivotal role supporting student mental health plays in
fostering well-rounded individuals, Dr. Coons emphasized its importance in
addressing challenges such as chronic absenteeism.

During her visit, she interacted with students, teachers, and administrators, underscoring the transformative impact of positive mental health strategies in promoting academic success and overall student well-being.

For more information about Stafford County Public Schools please visit staffordschools.net.

The students and staff of Grafton Village Elementary School (GVES) have once again shown their
dedication to helping others through the success of their second annual cereal box drive.

Organized by the school outreach committee in collaboration with the GVES Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), this year’s drive surpassed expectations with overwhelming community support.

Read more in a Stafford County Public Schools press release:

Last year, GVES collected 1800 cereal boxes, setting a goal of 2000 for this year’s drive. With the combined efforts of students, staff, and the local community, that goal was not only met but exceeded.

“The drive kicked off slowly last week as students began bringing in boxes, but momentum picked up dramatically this week, especially with the timely cereal sale at the local Giant store,” said Annmarie Mulholland, PTA VP of Hospitality at GVES.

The PTA diligently counted boxes daily and released classroom counts, fostering a healthy spirit of competition among students. The winning class on each grade level will enjoy a Domino’s pizza party sponsored by the PTA.

Today, during a school-wide celebration, fifth-grade classes took the lead helping to place the boxes throughout the entire school building, spanning the upstairs hallway, winding down the stairs, snaking the main floor, all the way to an impressive corkscrew finale in the gymnasium.

Ms. Stacee Rogers, the school’s service employee of the year, initiated the domino effect, symbolizing the cascading impact of collective efforts. The fifth-grade students worked tirelessly alongside staff and volunteers to load each of the 2,000 boxes onto the large pallets, which will be picked up by the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank on Tuesday.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community, students, and dedicated staff for their unwavering support and commitment to this cause,” said Michael Sidebotham, principal. “This drive exemplifies the spirit of generosity and compassion that defines the GVES community. Go Grizzlies!”

For more information about Stafford County Public Schools, or to apply for a vacancy, please visit staffordschools.net.

Craig Meadows has come out of retirement to help right the ship.

Meadows, the second interim administrator in two years, will serve as the Stafford County Interim County Administrator starting Wednesday, April 3, 2024. He recently retired from Montgomery County, Virginia (Blacksburg-Christiansburg area), where he retired after serving as its County Administrator for 14 years.

Meadow’s appointment comes as Stafford County Administrator Randall Vosburg will resign tomorrow, April 2. He held the job for 20 months and did not explain his departure.

The county administrator’s office has had a revolving door since Tom Foley retired in 2020. Foley held the job for four years.

The Supervisors will approve the FY2025 budget during a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at the county government center, 1300 Courthouse Road in Stafford.

More in a county press release.

The mother of a former student at North Stafford High School has filed a lawsuit against the county school division seeking $15 million in compensatory damages, alleging failure to protect her child.

Court documents reveal that a female student, unnamed in this story due to her status as a minor, began spreading misinformation about the plaintiff’s child in December 2022, accusing her of making racist remarks, which the plaintiff Ashley Cain denies.

In January 2023, one of the two accused students confronted the plaintiff’s child, leading to the implementation of a “mediation resolution contract” by the school. This contract mandated no direct communication between the two and avoidance in various public settings, like hallways and the school cafeteria.

Despite this agreement, on April 24, 2023, the accused student attacked the plaintiff’s child in the school, resulting in injuries. A video of the incident surfaced online, further exacerbating the situation.

Court documents allege the child was again attacked in a gym locker room. Following that incident, on May 16, 2023, the plaintiff withdrew her child from North Stafford High School and relocated to a different county for their safety.

The school’s response to the escalating conflict was criticized in court documents, which allege inadequate separation measures and a lack of intervention despite ongoing threats.

The plaintiff’s attorney, James Frogale, noted that the incidents occurred when the students involved were freshmen in 2023.

The lawsuit seeks $5 million in compensatory damages from the students involved, $5 million from school staff named in the suit, and an additional $5 million from the School Board.

A spokesperson for the school division declined to comment on the matter.

The lawsuit also highlights a broader concern regarding school safety, referencing incidents at other schools within the division, including fights leading to suspensions and a lockdown at Brooke Point High School in January 2024 that led to the suspensions of 19 students.

In the weeks following the lockdown, the school division ended a county-wide program that allowed high school students a daily one-hour lunch and allowed them to walkabout campus. Parents who spoke to Potomac Local blamed the free period on increased fights in county high schools.

Kelly Sienkowski contributed to this story.

Updated 5:45 p.m. — Police tell us one person outside Conway Elementary School had a weapon and was arrested.

Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Ryan Wilbur says:

It had nothing to do with Conway Elementary School, staff, or students. The school was only placed on a partial lockdown due to the proximity of the disturbance.

More as we have it.

Original post 1:22 p.m. — Police detained someone at near Conway Elementary School in Stafford County this morning.

The incident prompted a lockdown at about 11 a.m. It was lifted just before noon. Sheriff’s deputies swarmed the school at 105 Primmer House Road in the Leeland Station neighborhood.

We don’t know what prompted the lockdown, or who is detained. We’re awaiting an update from the Stafford sheriff’s office and will post as soon as we get it.

Stafford County Supervisor Deuntay Diggs will hold his first town hall meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Stafford High School.

Diggs represents the George Washington District, said he’ll be joined by elected School Board member, Susan Randall, also of George Washington, as well as residents whom Diggs appointed to several county boards and commissions.

“I am delighted to introduce to you the esteemed team representing the George Washington District! Our inaugural town hall meeting is scheduled for March 27th at 6:00pm, hosted at Stafford High School in the auditorium. Your presence and participation are highly valued as we embark on this journey together. Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege to serve,” Diggs posted to Facebook.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with opening remarks from Diggs, State Senator Tara Durant (R-27, Stafford, Fredericksburg), Delegate Joshua Cole (D-65, Stafford, Fredericksburg), Randall, and Dr. Brad Hatch from the Patowomeck Tribe.

After introducing the various board and commission appointees, Diggs will take questions from the audience until 8 p.m.

Diggs is a Stafford sheriff’s deputy, and the town hall meeting comes as five people who police said work for a Charlottesville towing company assaulted two cops at a south Stafford McDonalds and were set free hours later by a county magistrate.

Other types of crime in the county are up, too.  Diggs’ boss, Sheriff David Decatur, said the number of police chases his deputies respond to in the county has increased, as local police agencies in Northern Virginia chose not to pursue suspects who are eventually stopped in Stafford.

Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors is working to finalize its FY2025 budget, with final adoption expected next month. Supervisors have advertised a lower Real Estate tax rate used to fund county government operations, but tax bills are expected to rise due to higher home assessments, up at least 13% over the past two years.

School officials said the county’s budget is about $2 million short of what it needs to fund schools for the coming year fully.

Diggs was elected to replace Tom Coen, who served on the Board of Supervisors since 2018.