11 Stafford, Spotsylvania Schools Awarded $264K For Security Upgrades

STAFFORD, VA — Eleven schools in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties will receive more than $264,000 from Virginia to pay for security improvements, state education officials announced Thursday.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools received $250,000, the maximum amount available to an individual school division through Virginia's 2026-27 School Security Equipment Grant program.

The funding was awarded to seven schools:

• Chancellor High School
• Courtland High School
• Harrison Road Elementary School
• John J. Wright Educational and Cultural Center
• Ni River Middle School
• Spotsylvania Middle School
• Wilderness Elementary School

Stafford County Public Schools received $14,210 for improvements at four schools:

• Edward E. Drew Jr. Middle School
• Ferry Farm Elementary School
• Garrisonville Elementary School
• North Star Early Childhood Education Center

The grants can be used to purchase security equipment and make building improvements such as security vestibules.

"School security is always top of mind for every superintendent, principal and parent across the Commonwealth, and last week demonstrated the importance of secure buildings," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway said. "We're pleased to provide them with the resources they need to keep their staff and students safe."

Virginia awarded $12 million through the program this year to 399 schools in 91 school divisions. School divisions could receive up to $250,000.

The program has provided $126 million for school security improvements since it was established in 2013. This year's grants were awarded competitively after the Virginia Department of Education received applications involving 770 schools in 124 of Virginia's 132 school divisions, along with seven regional centers and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.