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NORTHERN VIRGINIA MEDIA SERVICES
JUNE 19, 2015
VOLUME 27, NUMBER 14
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VIEWPOINTS PAGE 4 | PUZZLES PAGE 9 | CLASSIFIED PAGES 10, 11
Supervisors deny airport land-use plan TRACY BELL
For the Stafford County Sun
Sitting in the front row gives Emily Abramaitys the perfect angle, with the help of a selfie stick, for a memorable graduation-day photo of the Class of 2015 at Mountain View High School. For more photos from the June 13 graduations in Stafford County, see page 5. Aleks Dolzenko/Staffordcountysun.com
Stafford students confident about money, worried about the future AMANDA MOTLEY
For the Stafford County Sun
Today’s economy might be leaving students on edge but that does not take away from their confidence in money management. A recent survey by Apple Federal Credit Union (AFCU) concluded that Northern Virginia teens are confident about their money management skills but worried about the future. The survey of 4,240 students from Northern Virginia high schools concluded they were confident in creating a budget, knowing how to avoid credit card debt, investing money and understanding different options for saving and investing money. Some 70 percent of the students said they gained this confidence by taking a personal finance class that is taught in all state schools as part of the 2009 decision to make financial literacy a requirement
of graduation. According to Brooke Point High School business teachers Kitty Hughes and Trenna Mason, the finance classes are broken down to units such as income taxes, credit management, resource management, investing and financial security. The course is designed to teach students how to fill out W-4 tax documents, understand car insurance and other practical areas of financial literacy. “We teach things that pertain to them right now,” Hughes said. “I have had a couple of students who did their taxes for the first time this year and did not realize they were capable or able to do their own taxes.” At the beginning of the course, Hughes said, students are surveyed about their financial literacy. The tests often yield poor results, with some scores falling to 50 percent. However when students are tested at the end of the semester, scores rarely go
below 80 percent. “I feel prepared, like I have a good foundation for what is going to be ahead,” Brooke Point junior Kirsten Marshall, said. “Having to retain this information in a classroom prepares you so much more than having to learn this stuff by yourself.” While most students are confident about money, they also worry about their future. Most were looking beyond material items and focusing on college tuition, job searching and paying rent. “I am worried about getting a job at all,” Colonial Forge sophomore Tyler Webb said, “even if I got to college.” Students were also worried about dealing with financial aid. “I should have applied to scholarships to help me, but I did not do that,” Colonial Forge senior Caroline Hincher said. “I will be applying for scholarships for next fall and spring. I am going to STUDENTS PAGE 10 a private school so I am
A proposed airport land-use plan was denied by a 4-3 vote Tuesday at a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting. Stafford Supervisors Paul Milde, R-Aquia; Meg Bohmke, R-Falmouth; and Robert Thomas, R-George Washington, supported the plan. The proposal sought to approve proposed amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan with respect to the Stafford County Regional Airport planning area. Some supervisors said the proposal is too complicated, that it devalues property or that it doesn’t work well with other land planning. “The airport was built in the wrong location,” said Supervisor Gary Snellings, R-Hartwood, who represents the district where the airport is located. “It has been a nightmare for the people who live around it. This is adding another layer to an already complicated process.” Supervisor Jack Cavalier, I-GriffisWidewater, who was concerned about a level of bureaucracy being added to the issue, said that he supports the airport operations but doesn’t support having more restrictions placed around the airport. Thomas said that people BOS should know what to expect in PAGE 10 an area where they might buy.
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