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JULY 31, 2015
VOLUME 27, NUMBER 20
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Court rules for school board TRACY BELL
Stafford County Sun
Students will no longer use the old Stafford Senior High School building, left, but builders have just one month to finish the new building, right, before the start of school. Aleks Dolzenko/Stafford County Sun
Stafford High still being built TRACY BELL
Stafford County Sun
August is here, bringing with it anticipation of summer’s end and the start of a new school year. At Stafford High School, the anticipation may be even greater. A rebuild of the school has been underway, and school administration and staff have worried about school opening on schedule due to prior delays. Slowed construction of the $66.6 million school has delayed teacher schedules and planning, and has threatened to delay students as well. Originally SHS was expected to be finished in May. It was later pushed to mid-July, and then late July and Aug. 1, according to Stafford County Public Schools staff, who explained that subcontractors were delayed, decisions were stalled and last winter’s weather played a part. Demolition of the old school onsite has
also been on the agenda as workers scurry to complete the new school in time for students to crack the books Sept. 8. According to SCPS, Hess Construction can face daily penalties for not making the contract’s May 31 deadline. SCPS Public Information Officer Valerie Cottongim and Scott Horan, assistant superintendent for operations, did not respond this week to inquires about the school’s progress. Stafford High School will feature three above-ground levels, 289,000 square feet of space, large windows for access to natural light — the prior school was mostly windowless — a gym multi-purpose room and improved career and technical education space. The environmentally friendly school will also feature an automotive shop, an 800-seat auditorium, a 700-seat cafeteria and a 2,000-seat gymnasium, as well as a cyber cafe. The school will have a 2,000 student
capacity, representing a 200 student increase. Stafford High School, located in Falmouth, moved to its current location in 1975. It was the county’s sole high school from the early 1950s until 1981, when North Stafford High School opened. Stafford High School first opened in 1926 and was located in what is now a portion of the Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex. In 1952, the school and Falmouth High School merged, and moved to what is now Edward E. Drew Middle School. Today, as Stafford High School prepares for a new start, surplus items from the school that are not being used in the new school or other schools are being placed on auction on Public/Surplus, an online auction service. Anyone interested in SHS memorabilia, including wooden classroom chairs, can visit www.publicsurplus.com. Tracy Bell can be reached at tbell@staffordcountysun.com.
A judge in Stafford County Circuit Court backed the Stafford County School Board on Tuesday, ruling in favor of the board over a redistricting plan suit. The school board was the defendant in a lawsuit filed by seven Stafford parents whose children attend Stafford Middle School. Even though the school board’s recent redistricting decision for the county did not result in the plaintiffs’ children switching schools, the parents said they were worried about parity for the county’s students as a whole. They also complained about doubled commutes for some students. The parents wanted the civil suit to force the school board to reexamine its redistricting plan and vote again, providing better transparency as well as a report explaining the board’s reasoning following another vote. The redistricting decision by the school board was originally made in late February, and the parents filed their complaint in circuit court in late March. The plaintiffs alleged that the school board’s overall plan to relieve overcrowded schools didn’t help Stafford Middle School either, because the under-capacity school has suffered reduced funding and decreased school programs with its status. The parents said in their complaint that the overall redistricting plan affects SMS in the long run because their students will have fewer opportunities. But the judge countered that the board did not purposefully ignore data when determining a redistricting plan, and therefore legally, she would not have a reason to reverse the outcome. BOARD The judge agreed that PAGE 14 the adopted redistricting
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