Announcements

SCPS Conducts Proactive Water Fountain Testing

In 2020, the SCPS Water Management Team shut down and sealed off the water fountains, bottle fillers, and water coolers within SCPS facilities due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. As a result, these water fountains have been out of service for approximately two years and bottled water has been provided for students, staff, and visitors.

As we look to welcome our students back to the buildings, we are currently working with an industrial hygiene consultant to proactively test stagnant water in our fountains for the presence of Legionella. We have not been directed to complete water testing, nor are there any staff members who are ill. This is simply the right thing to do to ensure the highest level of safety in our buildings.

Our summer maintenance routines are currently underway, and part of that includes thoroughly flushing the water lines within our buildings. Initial water samples were taken in June prior to the beginning of our summer water fountain flushing routine. A limited number of these samples revealed the presence of Legionella in water fixtures that have not been in use. Any water fountains that are found to have a Legionella concern are being addressed and then resampled to confirm Legionella is no longer detected. As the water fountains are tested and confirmed to be non-detect for Legionella, these drinking water sources will be reopened.

The Stafford County water plants routinely monitor and test treated water out in the system. The county has sampled the water distribution system and assured us that there is not a concern with the water supply to the buildings. As the concern is limited to water fountains that have been out of use, the kitchen and bathroom facilities are not impacted. These areas have been used routinely over the last two years, so there has not been an accumulation of water in these fixtures and they are safe for use.

The wellness of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to all of us at Stafford County Public Schools. We encourage all of our neighboring school divisions to conduct the same proactive testing of their water fountains. We will continue to provide bottled water to students and staff until all water fountains have been tested and determined to be non-detect for Legionella. This process will take approximately six months to fully complete.

We will provide additional information as these fixtures are reopened for their intended use. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Updated COVID-19 strategies
We are very excited for the start of the 22-23 school year. In preparation for returning all of our staff, students, and community back into all SCPS buildings, we have updated our COVID-19 strategies in collaboration with the VDH and local health department. If your child has any specific circumstances related to this that you wish to discuss, please follow up with your child's building level principal.
- Bus
- SCPS buildings and classrooms
2022-2023 School Year Bell Schedule

At the March 22, 2022 School Board meeting, the Stafford County School Board voted to change the bell schedule for the 2022-2023 school year. This change allows for an increased instructional day (6.5 hours), condenses from a four tier to a three tier schedule, and adds adequate time between tiers to support on-time bus arrival and departure. The final schedule also accommodates the preferences for high school and elementary earlier start times.

This schedule includes several enhancements for our students, such as dedicated buses for interscholastic athletics, travel students, and early childhood programs as well as a 3.5 hour mid-day field trip window. At the high school level, the proposed schedule allows for the addition of High School Advisory Support time in conjunction with lunch and adequate arrival time for Advanced Placement testing.

The below information reflects the schedule changes, including the new order of school arrivals. All high schools and Rockhill Elementary will begin first. All other Elementary Schools will be on the second tier. All middle schools will be on the third tier. Early Childhood Education Centers will continue to operate with a morning and afternoon half-day schedule for certain classes, as well as a whole day schedule for others.

Learn more on the SCPS 2022-2023 school year webpage.
State Superintendent Reminds Parents of New Immunization Requirements
RICHMOND — Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane is reminding parents to make sure that their children’s immunizations are up to date — especially students and young children subject to new requirements that went into effect on July 1, 2021.

“I encourage school divisions to collaborate with local health districts to provide multiple opportunities for children and students to receive all of the required immunizations and booster shots before the beginning of the school year,” Lane said. “Many of our divisions are already doing this by taking advantage of summer learning and nutrition programs to increase convenience for parents and children, especially for families that rely on school-based clinics and public health agencies for much of their care.”

To align with recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the 2020 General Assembly passed House Bill 1090 amending Virginia’s immunization requirements for attending public and private schools, child care centers, nursery schools, family home day care centers, and developmental centers.

The 2020 legislation amended the Code of Virginia to require the following new immunizations and booster shots:
- Two doses of properly spaced human papillomavirus vaccine for all children. The first dose is required before the child enters the seventh grade.
- Two or three properly spaced doses of rotavirus vaccine, depending on the manufacturer, for children up to eight months of age.
- Two properly spaced doses of hepatitis A vaccine. The first dose must be administered at age 12 months or older. The new hepatitis A vaccine requirement is an addition to the existing kindergarten immunization requirements.
- Two properly spaced doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The first is required prior to entry to the seventh grade. The second dose is required prior to entry to the twelfth grade.
See Paragraph C of § 22.1-271.2 for information on religious and medical exemptions.

The Virginia Department of Health has created a list of frequently asked questions to help parents understand the new immunization requirements. The FAQ is available in both English and Spanish. A printable poster explaining all of Virginia’s immunization requirements also is available on the VDH website.

In addition, VDH and VDOE have created a Healthy Back-to-School webpage to help parents keep their children healthy this summer and prepare them for returning to school. The site provides resources about immunizations, COVID-19, well-child visits, routine oral care and mental health. There is also a "Back to School Checklist" to help parents track and organize back-to-school tasks.

The new immunization requirements do not include vaccination against COVID-19. While the CDC recommends the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children age 12 and up, Virginia state law does not require COVID-19 vaccines for enrollment in public schools.
Tip Hotline