The Stafford County School Board released a new beginning date for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. Originally, the school year would start on September 4th, post-Labor Day. The new date the school year will begin is August 12th. The School year would end on May 27 and Spring Break would be moved to March.

  Of the seven Stafford County School Board members, only two voted against the change, Dewayne McOsker of the George Washington District. and Chairman Patricia Healy, in a 5-2 ruling. As the hottest months of summer are July and August, this ruling will economically harm businesses open exclusively in summer. Not only that, it prevents Stafford Country residents to hit Virginia's beach destinations in August, harming the economy.

  McOsker said, "Only 12 of 112 busses have air conditioning, and it would cost $10,000 per bus. Also, the additional cost to run the air conditioning in the school buildings with that kind of heat will be expensive. I figured all costs will be $2.5 million the first year with recurring costs each year after that.”

  According to a poll in 2017, 54.21% of parents prefer a post-labor Day start opposed to a 45.79% pre-Labor Day start. The Stafford County Board Members that voted in favor of the change are:

1. Ms. Irene Egan - eganim@staffordschools.net
2. Dr. Sarah Chase - chasesd@staffordschools.net
3. Ms. R. Pamela Yeung - yeungrp@staffordschools.net
4. Ms. Jamie Decatur - decaturjl@staffordschools.net
5. Ms. Holly Hazard - hazardhh@staffordschools.net

  If you want to change this ruling back to the original date (September 4th), sign this petition! This petition will be forwarded to the Stafford County School Board members.