Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 21 SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Following a decade-long trajectory of improve- ments that made Spotsylvania one of the better school districts in the area, the system has fallen into turmoil. In November 2021 the school board fired a distinguished and well-liked super- intendent, and replaced him with Mark Taylor who has no background in education, but does have personal ties to then-school board chair Kirk Twigg. Since the transition, the central office has undergone significant turnover, losing decades of institutional knowledge and experience. The superintendent and majority board members have refused to talk with established legacy media sources, and have similarly refused to answer emails from many parents, fellow board members who make up the minority, and other public school stakeholders. This fall, four board seats are up for grabs, and the movement to strip the majority of power is already heating up. FredParent reached out to Spotsylvania County Public Schools, who has declined to comment. STAFFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS The largest school district in the area, Stafford County Public Schools are facing issues related to funding and overcrowding. However, the system also enjoys an enviable track record on state testing and school accredita- tion. The district is also an innovator in career technical education. Visit the VDOE's School Quality Profiles to Learn more: https://school- quality.virginia.gov/divisions/stafford-county-public-schools Q&A with Superintendent Thomas Taylor FP: What is your greatest challenge coming into the year? TT: We are facing tremendous growth with an aging infrastructure and an underfunded budget. We need greater support from our local and state legislature to build schools and provide adequate funding to support pro- grams that provide meaningful, real-world opportunities for our students in a safe and supportive environment. Right now, Stafford ranks 111/132 in funding. This is plain and simply a disservice to our learning community. FP: What is your district's greatest strength? TT: We have incredible teachers, staff, and families who care deeply about student success. Our staff is committed to ensuring every child receives a quality education that properly prepares them for life after high school. We take the time to build relationships with our families and students through open, transparent communication that allows us to chart the best path of success for each student as a unified learning team. FP: What do you want parents returning to your district, or entering for the first time, to know? TT: Stafford is a great place to live, work, and learn. We are committed to providing innovative opportunities for student and staff achievement, and we are constantly evaluating and implementing programs, ideas, and practices that inspire and empower everyone in our learning com- munity to excel. We value Students, Integrity, Community, Opportunity, Excellence, and Respect—which means that even though we are a large division, we work hard to retain our small division feel. Everyone who comes to Stafford is known by name and never treated as a number. Critical Data Number of Students: 31,000 Number of FULLY CERTIFIED Teachers/Number of Provisionally Certified Teachers: Among all currently employed teachers, 1695 (78%) are fully licensed, 297 (14%) are provisionally licensed, 50 (2%) have applications presently pending at VDOE, and the remainder (6%) we are awaiting full licensure application materials to submit to VDOE. It is important to also to note that "provisionally licensed" can mean a wide range of things, including something as simple as having completed an out of state teacher preparation program and needing to take the VCLA exam (a Virginia specific assessment) or one additional course that is required by Virginia for licensure but not by your home state. Number of Unfilled Teaching Positions: We have approximately 120 teaching vacancies presently. Percentage of Low-income Students: In FY23, approximately 45% of our student population was economically disadvantaged. Special Education Coordinator for District: Please direct all inquiries to Superintendent Taylor Instructional Coordinator for District: Please direct all inquiries to Superintendent Taylor Mar n Davis is the editor-in-chief at the FXBG Advance, the nonprofi t newsroom housed by Fredericks- burg Parent Gives. He is a teacher at James Monroe High School, a high school football coach and the former opinion editor at the Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg Parent Gives exists to provide informa on, resources and events to be er the condi ons of families in the Fredericksburg area. The FXBG Advance launched in August and provides local news 7 days a week for free. We believe news should never be behind a paywall and we all deserve fact-based, bi-par san informa on on the local is- sues that impact our lives. The Fredericksburg Area Imagina- on Library launched in November of 2022. Funded by the Northern Neck Electric Coopera ve, the Rappahan- nock Rotary Club, Sara Branner, Leigh Anne Van Doren and area donors, this affi liate of the Dolly Parton Imagina- on Library served 1606 families in September. Free high-quality books are mailed monthly to children aged 0-5 in the coun es of Staff ord and King George and the city of Fredericksburg. Click here to subscribe to FXBG Advance Click here to donate or register at the Imagina- on Library. Research provided by the FXBG Advance.

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