by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Among the bills Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed this session is one that would have permitted all localities in Virginia to charge 1% sales tax to fund public school construction projects. Youngkin vetoed the legislation, which passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support, this week. Virginia is a Dillon […]
The search for a new school superintendent will kick off officially next week. The division today announced a public engagement process that includes four upcoming community forums plus an online survey. “Our goal is to identify a leader who will lead with a vision and strive for excellence. This is a critical decision for the […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT The James Farmer Multicultural Center at the University of Mary Washington is preparing to host its 34th annual Multicultural Fair this weekend—an event that typically brings 5,000 to 6,000 people to campus to celebrate diverse, global cultures. This year’s event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT In 2021, Jan Monroe, the executive director of the local nonprofit STEP VA, asked Noah Finch, one of the program’s longtime participants, to write a song about how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected people with disabilities. “In 30 minutes, a song was in my inbox,” Monroe said. STEP VA—an […]
Demands include removal of “all defamatory publications you have authored, repeated, or otherwise disseminated in an online forum, including on social media or news sites.” by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT A “cease and desist” letter went out in February to the anonymously-run website and Facebook page The Spotsy Wire, demanding that it stop making […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Stafford County Public Schools’ support staff—the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, and other employees who aren’t teachers but who are essential to the day-to-day functioning of the school division—will receive long-awaited raises under the provisional budget adopted Tuesday by the School Board. These employees, who […]
In Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, school facilities are underfunded, and the impacts include safety, academic performance, and community involvement. Addressing the problem requires a new way of thinking. by Martin DavisEDITOR-IN-CHIEF School facilities have become major issues in Fredericksburg city, as well as Spotsylvania and Stafford counties. This should be a surprise only to those […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT The 2024 Longwood University High School Theater Teacher of the Year is a middle school teacher. Aidan Brown, a sophomore at Longwood, wrote in the letter nominating his middle school theater teacher Andrea Candea-Carroll for the award that he’s usually a rule-follower, but in this case, he had to […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Anna Pomaska has written and illustrated more than 100 books for children in the past 45 years—possibly more than beloved children’s authors Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss. Her art was so prevalent in the childhood of those who grew up in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s that it seemed […]
by Adele UphausMANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT Spotsylvania School Board member Lisa Phelps will receive a written letter of reprimand from the Board for violating the governing body’s Code of Ethics. The Board approved sending the letter by a vote of 5-to-0 at Monday evening’s regular meeting. Phelps had been participating in the meeting via phone […]
