The Stafford County School Board voted unanimously to appoint Chris R. Fulmer as the acting superintendent during a special meeting on Tuesday night. The school board will meet on June 25 to select a superintendent search firm.
“We have full faith and confidence that Mr. Fulmer will further the goals of Stafford Schools with dignity as the acting superintendent,” School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund said in a news release from the county. “As a Stafford native, parent, and community member, Mr. Fulmer is committed to and exemplifies unwavering dedication to our mission. As evidenced by our unanimous vote, we believe fully that he will continue to inspire excellence among our students, staff, and community alike.”
The board also approved a revised budget, which includes an additional 1% increase to the teacher and instructional support scales approved in the provisional budget, bringing the average teacher pay raise to 6.5% in FY25.
The board trimmed $527,000 from non-compensation total spending. Other changes to FY25 line items include a reduction from 12-month to 10.5-month contracts for the five high school Deans of Students, saving the division $60,000. Further, the budget retains the Office of Student Conduct, staffed by a Director of Student Conduct and a Title IX Coordinator.
“The addition of the Deans of Students and the Office of Student Conduct reinforces our board’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students,” said outgoing Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor, who will head Montgomery County (Md.) Schools starting this fall. “We have really gotten creative in coming up with budget solutions, and I hope the community continues to support our funding requests in light of these decisions.
“The revised budget shows our commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring our teachers are supported and students receive a great education,” said Siegmund. “I am happy we were able to revisit staff salaries while maintaining our commitment to enhancing student safety.”
