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Edwards takes charge for North Stafford High VOL. 28 | NUM. 30
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OCTOBER 7, 2016 | NORTHERN VIRGINIA MEDIA SERVICES
Schools struggle with students learning English
CANDIDATES ON THE STUMP
TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
igh schools in both Prince William and Stafford counties managed to post slightly improved fouryear graduation rates for the class of 2016, beating statewide averages in the process, though both divisions continue to struggle to graduate students who are still learning English. The state’s Department of Education announced Sept. 28 that 91.8 percent of students who enrolled in Prince William County high schools in the fall of 2012 managed to graduate this year, while Stafford County posted a 92.9 percent four-year graduation rate. Both of those figures represent improvements for the counties — Prince William managed a 91.4 percent rate in 2015 and 90.5 percent in 2014, while Stafford posted a 92.5 percent figure in 2015 and 90.6 percent in 2014. Prince William and Stafford also managed to outpace the statewide graduation rate of 91.3 percent with those numbers. “This exciting news confirms that our efforts toward continuous improvement are really paying off for our students,” Mickey Mulgrew, Prince William’s associate superintendent for high schools, said in a statement. A spokeswoman for SCHOOL Stafford County schools PAGE 13 didn’t immediately re-
The Fredericksburg Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a meet-the-candidates gathering Sept. 29 at the Porter library, with some 30 people attending. Information about voter registration and voting law was presented by Greg Riddlemoser, Stafford County registrar, who stressed that ballots must be cast in the precinct where the voter is registered. Traci J. DeShazor, deputy secretary of the commonwealth, spoke on the restoration of voting rights to felons. Candidates present included 1st District hopefuls Democrat Matt Rowe and independent Gail Parker. Representatives were present for Rep. Rob Wittman and the Johnson-Weld campaign. Above, Griffis-Widewater District school board candidate Jamie Decatur, right, speaks to the visitors. . ALEKS DOLZENKO | INSIDENOVA
Board weighs cost of permits for concealed handguns TRACY BELL
T
tbell@insidenova.com
he cost of permit fees for concealed handguns could decrease in Stafford, according to discussion at a Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The board unanimously agreed to ask Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur to re-examine the fees to verify their accuracy and reduce the cost to $28. In Stafford, a concealed-handgun permit costs applicants $50 apiece. The Stafford County Sheriff ’s Office collects $35 for a
records and background check; Stafford Circuit Court collects $10, and $5 goes to the Virginia State Police for processing. It costs the sheriff ’s office about $28 per application to process the paperwork, according to a Sept. 29 memo that Decatur sent to the supervisors. Setting aside the $15 that isn’t considered adjustable, the cost to the resident ($28) leaves a $7 discrepancy between what the sheriff ’s office charges ($35). Tuesday’s vote includes a plan to review the fee annually at budget time.
John Edgar of Marlbrough Point was one of two speakers on the issue. He said he supports reducing or, better yet, eliminating the fee. “…Any fee or service charge or tax, or whatever else you want to call it, that is imposed on a constitutionally guaranteed right, denigrates that right into a mere privilege granted by a beneficent government organization,” he said. “So, in essence it is nothing more than a modern-day poll tax, and that tax can be escalated at any point in time to eliminate the PERMITS PAGE 13 exercise of that
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