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Northam sworn in as governor
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Area family takes to TV for reality
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Colonial Forge grad pushing herself in basketball VOL. 29 | NUM. 46
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JANUARY 19, 2018
READY TO GO
Schools looking for $16.7 million
more than last year
Mountain View graduate DaeSean Hamilton prepares for the NFL Draft
TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
S
tafford County Public Schools’ Superintendent Bruce Benson wants $16.7 million more than last fiscal year to run the division. In his request to the school board Tuesday, Benson is asking for $295.6 million, which will include 90.5 new positions, many due to growth. Also included in the request are funds for 44 teacher positions, 29.5 paraprofessional positions, a social worker, a speech pathologist, three psychologist interns, seven diagnosticians, 1.5 counselor positions and several other support positions. Financially, the positions would be a $5-million increase from fiscal 2018. Benson also discussed starting teacher salaries, explaining that at just over $44,000, Stafford County Public Schools would be at the median of the market. Benson noted that three-anda-half years ago, when he came to the board, the starting teacher salary was just over $37,700. A $1.9 million median teacher pay scale enhancement is included in the budget. Benson said that the request includes no assumptions of local support. Other costs include $1.5 million in infrastructure spending, $1.8 million dedicated to buses, $550,000 for a ser-
DAVID FAWCETT
dfawcett@insidenova.com
T
here was no down time for DaeSean Hamilton after his college football career ended following Penn State’s 35-28 win over Washington in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30. And that’s the way he wanted it. The Mountain View High School graduate left with the remaining Nittany Lions the next day for State College. He spent a day packing up workout gear and dress clothes before flying down to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 1 to begin preparations for the next step in his plans to play in the NFL. “That was on me,” Hamilton said. “I wanted to get there as soon as possible. I couldn’t wait to get this process started.” For the next seven weeks, Hamilton’s home is the XPE Sports facility under the guidance of trainer Matt Gates. There with around 20 other NFL prospects, Hamilton works on things like his interview skills and improving his 40 time as he goes through the evaluation process leading up to the April 26-28 NFL Draft. The first stop is on Saturday, where he will compete in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Hamilton left Jan. 12 for the week-long practices that include meeting NFL personnel. DRAFT
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Mountain View graduate DaeSean Hamilton finished as Penn State’s all-time leading receiver with 214 catches. PENN STATE ATHLETICS
SCHOOLS
Seyed M Hashemi, MD, FACC
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STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
Dr. Hashemi, cardiologist has opened his new office in Stafford on 610! 243 Garrisonville Rd. Suite 101 Stafford, VA 22554 Phone: 540 440 7001 or 703 490 3700
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