Stafford County Public Schools

News

Stafford Property Taxes Up 62% Since 2012 as FY2026 Budget Clears

By Potomac Local News

STAFFORD, Va. — The average homeowner in Stafford County will pay $130 more in property taxes starting July 1, 2025, after the Board of Supervisors approved a three-percent increase to the real estate tax rate—the county’s central funding source for local government and schools. Homeowners with a property assessed at the county average of $434,400 will receive a $4,069 bill.

According to data from Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky, average residential tax bills have increased 62% since 2012, when the typical homeowner paid $2,506. Over the same period, the average home value rose nearly 60%, slightly trailing the pace of tax increases.

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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

Teachers of the Week: Stafford County’s Theatre Educators Take Center Stage

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund, Michael D’Addario of Stafford High School, Lisa Cover Tucci of Colonial Forge High School, School Board member Maya Guy, Superintendent Daniel W. Smith.

In celebration of Theatre in Our Schools Month, the Stafford County School Board has honored two of its most inspiring theatre educators, Michael D’Addario of Stafford High School and Lisa Cover Tucci of Colonial Forge High School.

Both teachers were recognized during the March 11, 2025, School Board meeting, where board members praised their commitment to student growth, creative excellence, and community engagement through the performing arts.

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News

Stafford Residents Split Over Proposed Tax Hike to Fund $1 Billion County Budget

By Uriah Kiser

Dozens of Stafford County residents packed the chambers Tuesday night during a special-called meeting of the Board of Supervisors to weigh in on the proposed $1.015 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget — and the tax increase that may come with it.

The meeting featured a detailed budget presentation by Chief Financial Officer Andrea Light, followed by a public hearing where residents delivered emotional appeals both for and against the proposed increase in the county’s real estate tax rate.

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News

Stafford Leaders React to Veto of Local Sales Tax for School Construction

By Uriah Kiser

Stafford County leaders are responding to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s recent veto of SB1307, a bill that would have allowed counties and cities across Virginia to hold voter referendums on implementing a 1% local sales and use tax dedicated to public school construction and renovation projects.

The legislation, introduced by Senator Jeremy McPike (D-29, Prince William, Stafford), sought to add Stafford County to the list of localities eligible to consider the tax through a ballot referendum. McPike criticized the governor’s decision on social media, calling it a move that blocks local communities from choosing how to fund needed school improvements.

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Schools

New Schools, New Boundaries: Stafford’s Plan to Relieve Overcrowding

By Uriah Kiser
(File photo)

As Stafford County continues to experience rapid population growth, school officials are moving forward with plans to open two new elementary schools—ES18 and ES19—in Fall 2026. These additions aim to relieve overcrowding in existing schools and are central to the school division’s redistricting plans under Scenario Green, which is currently under public review.

The Stafford County School Board recently reviewed projections showing both ES18 and ES19 will open at 95% capacity. The redistricting scenario ensures no elementary school will exceed 100% capacity in the first year of implementation. By 2030, only three schools are projected to be over capacity.

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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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Press Release

Paraprofessional at Conway Elementary School Faces Charges

By Uriah Kiser

A paraprofessional at Conway Elementary School was arrested following an investigation into inappropriate conduct involving students, according to information from the Stafford Sheriff’s Office posted on March 20, 2025.

The sheriff reports that the investigation began on March 18 after a student alerted school officials that a male staff member was misbehaving toward a female student. A School Resource Officer immediately began an investigation, and the case was referred to detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.

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News

Snap, Crackle, Fall: Grafton Village Students Set Off a Chain Reaction

By Kelly Sienkowski

What sound do 1,455 cereal boxes make when they fall? Light thuds, and big cheers. Stafford’s Grafton Village Elementary School students filled the hallways on Friday, March 14 to cheer as cereal boxes toppled like dominoes through the school.

The breakfast, which was tumbled, wrapped up a two-week cereal donation drive. Students brought in unopened cereal boxes to their classrooms. The classroom with the highest total number won a Domino’s pizza and popsicle party. The winning 5th grade class brought in 162 boxes.

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