BACK TO SCHOOL Stafford
BACK TO SCHOOL Stafford
Today, we talk with Chris R. Fulmer, acting superintendent and chief operations officer, about cell phones, specialty academies, school construction, and more.
By Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR & CORRESPONDENT
Email Adele
An Interview with Acting Superintendent Chris R. Fulmer
In a little over a week, the largest and fastest-growing school division in the region will be welcoming back more than 32,000 students and 4,500 staff members.
“We’re looking forward to having the kids back in the buildings and getting teachers back together,” said acting superintendent Chris R. Fulmer. “The start of the school year always brings a lot of energy.”
The start of this school year brings several new initiatives, as well, including an “Off and Away” cell phone policy. The Stafford School Board was the first in the area to discuss implementing such a policy this past spring.
“I’m happy to say that our School Board was ahead of the game there,” Fulmer said. “[This policy] allows us to get the focus back on instruction.”
Students will be expected to turn their mobile and Bluetooth-enabled devices—including smartwatches, ear pods, and headphones—off and put them away for the duration of the academic day, “from bell to bell,” Fulmer said.
“We want to give students the benefit of the doubt that they can follow the rules,” he said. “If they are seen repeatedly with their cell phones out, we will put it in a locked [bank] bag, and the parent will have to come in with [the student] to have the bag unlocked.”
Fulmer said the hope is that eliminating the distraction and addictive factor of cell phones will also help improve student mental health, which is one of the division’s primary areas of focus, along with instruction and good attendance.
Specialty Academies
Another new initiative this year is the introduction of specialty academies at three of the county’s high schools—the Community Health and Medical Professions (CHAMP) Center at Brooke Point High School, the Engineering Professions and Industries of Construction (EPIC) Center at Stafford High School, and the Leadership, Education, and Public Service (LEAPS) Center at Mountain View High School.
Rising 9th graders interested in attending one of the specialty centers entered their names into a lottery for selection, Fulmer said. He said there’s been a great deal of interest in the academies and the division is looking forward to introducing three more in the coming years—a business and computer science center at Colonial Forge, an aviation center at North Stafford, and a creative and performing arts center at high school #6, which is under construction off Truslow Road in the Hartwood district.
School Construction Projects
The new high school is one of three construction projects that will be on-going or begin this school year, Fulmer said.
The School Board will award construction contracts for elementary school #18, to be built on the same campus as high school #6, and for elementary school #19, to be built on the Brooke Point High School campus, in the next two months.
“We are also in the middle of the design process for a new middle school to replace Drew Middle School,” Fulmer said, adding that no location has been selected yet.
Other New Initiatives
Other new initiatives include a new app and system for identifying school buses, which “will make things smoother for families and transportation,” Fulmer said, as well as a streamlined way for schools to record student absences.
Fulmer said he’s grateful to the Stafford community for “being great partners” over the years.
“[The community has] really been supportive of the schools, of new construction, funding, and other initiatives, and we’re looking to continue to build those relationships,” he said.
The school division is inviting the community to help kick off the new school year by registering for “Chalk the Walk,” which will take place from August 9-11. Participants are encouraged to drawing messages of welcome and support for staff and students on the sidewalks leading up to the schools.
Key Dates
Transition Day (K, 6, and 9) — August 12
School Begins — August 13
Thanksgiving Break — November 27-29
Winter Holiday — December 23-January 3
Spring Break — March 24-31
Last Day of School — May 29
Important Websites
Main Site
School Calendar (in English and Spanish)
Information about current school year (links to supply lists, Open House schedules, ParentVue, bus routes, and bell schedule)
Staff Directory
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