Elected leaders meet at Brooke Point High School on October 17, 2024 to discuss the Stafford County Public Schools legislative agenda. [Photo: Stafford schools]On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Stafford County School Board convened with local lawmakers to present its 2024 legislative agenda for the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session. Focused on enhancing educational quality and addressing critical funding disparities, the School Board laid out priorities designed to improve resources, staff retention, and the educational environment for Stafford County Public Schools.
The School Board's legislative agenda underscores several issues:
1. Cost-of-Competing Adjustment (COCA): Stafford County receives only 25% of the COCA funding that neighboring Northern Virginia districts enjoy, despite facing similar cost-of-living and market conditions. The Board urged lawmakers to support full COCA funding to help Stafford attract and retain educators, noting a $10,000 average salary gap between teachers in Stafford and nearby districts.
