After eliminating several options, the Stafford School Board is now reviewing five scenarios for redistricting ahead of the construction and opening of High School No. 6 on Truslow Road.
Stafford County Public Schools has hosted several community meetings for affected parents and students to review the maps and opened the floor for a public hearing at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Only one person spoke.
Michelle Wickman, a resident of Hampton Oaks, encouraged the school board members to keep neighborhoods together, noting that this is the second time that her community of townhomes was potentially going to be sent to a separate school zone from the rest of the neighborhood.
“Those kids in our neighborhood were completely separated from their peers twice, and the same thing almost happened with (one of) the proposed plans. If y’all could just pay attention when those plans are proposed,” she said. “I’m sure that it wasn’t intentional but I think even the fact that it was an oversight is also hurtful.
“It’s not low income per se, but it’s lower income than the rest of the neighborhood and so then equity becomes an issue…the families aren’t necessarily as aware of what’s going on or paying attention to the meetings.”
SCPS announced that it will hold a second public hearing regarding redistricting Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the school board chambers. A vote on the school boundaries is set for January.
Press the Issue
The Stafford County School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed Redistricting Options for High School 6 on Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the school board chambers (31 Stafford Ave. Stafford, V.A.)
The board unanimously approved a 2026-27 school calendar; a $387,000 contract to replace the intercom system at Brooke Point High School; a $3 million contract for mechanical system work at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School; a nearly $5 million contract to replace mechanical systems at Brooke Point; and a $6 million contract for architectural, design and construction work for the new middle school to replace Drew Middle School.
George Washington District Representative Susan Randall reminded the public that a meeting regarding the design of the new school will be held Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the school.
A proposal to change this year’s school calendar passed 5-2 with Alyssa Halstead of the Hartwood District and Patricia Healy of the Rock Hill District voting against it. The amended calendar adds Diwali as a staff and student holiday on Oct. 20, 2025, plus converts one school day (Oct. 3) to a professional development day for Virginia Literacy Act training.
Halstead objected to adding more days when working parents would need to secure childcare or take time off work.
School board members also approved the 2025-26 program of studies, which includes the creation of the Center for Business and Information Technology at Colonial Forge High School.
“We had a number of transportation issues this fall, as people are aware, and we have an outside report coming to the board, and hopefully have a new superintendent coming on in the not too-distant future,” Sarah Chase (Falmouth District) said. “We don’t know what kind of transportation we can or can’t provide and so we don’t want to overpromise or obligate ourselves at this point when we don’t really know what the situation is gonna be.”
The board unanimously agreed to remove language regarding transportation from the program of studies except for legally required transportation for special education students.
The proposed changes to the program of studies include: adding the Center for Business and Information Technology at Colonial Forge High School; stating Grade 8 students will be enrolled in Algebra I or Foundations of Algebra I beginning in 2025-2026; removing drafting as an EPIC Center pathway and made it a four-year pathway; removing automotive technology and automotive body technology as a program option at Stafford High School; combining BSN and LPN pathways into one nursing pathway; adding a medical assistant pathway; removing the two-year health assisting careers pathway; changing several four-year transfer pathways into two-year travel pathways; moving STAT information technology and Cyber4+ to the new CBIT at Colonial Forge; adding HVAC as a two-year travel pathway; adding paramedic prep as a two-year travel pathway.
Some board members expressed unease about math programs in middle schools while also supporting the opening of the new specialty center.
“My concern is mainly that we have schools struggling to acquire and keep licensed math teachers, and then I’m a little concerned about adding an additional specialty program for next year,” Chase said. “I don’t know where we are with the three programs we have already added and what it’s going to look like in terms of students continuing next year.”
The county opened three specialty centers at area high schools this year: Leadership, Education and Public Service (LEAPS) at Mountain View; Engineering Professions and Industries of Construction (EPIC) at Stafford; and Community Health and Medical Professions (CHAMP) at Brooke Point. After the Colonial Forge specialty center opens next year, another is planned for 2026 at North Stafford, an Aviation and Integrated Management Center.
High School No. 6 has been suggested as the next specialty center location, one focused on creative arts, media and performance.
“I’m a little concerned about the numbers and the transportation, too,” Randall said. “I just want to proceed with caution. Of course, I’m full force for these programs because, for what I call “the invisible middle,” this is an opportunity for them to find something for themselves.”
Elizabeth Warner (Griffis-Widewater District), also expressed concerns over middle school math.
“We need to make sure we have the math teachers in place in order to succeed with getting those kids through Algebra 1, and I am concerned about expanding the programs and the number of students because it will have an impact on transportation,” she said. “But I’m also concerned that if we don’t expand it that we will burn bridges with business partners that we’ve already established for this program.”
Warner said she would like “some kind of report” next year on the success of the specialty centers.
The measure passed 5-2 with Chase and Aquia District Representative Maya Guy voting against it.
