FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Hard hats and golden shovels were the order of the day Wednesday, along with a few raincoats to fend off the drizzle, as Stafford County school and government officials, students and first responders, contractors, and state representatives gathered under a tent for the official groundbreaking of Stafford Elementary School #18.
The new elementary school is the second of three construction projects set to open by August 2026 to address the county’s growing population.
Stafford school officials were pleasantly surprised last month when bids for elementary school No. 18 came in about $10 million under budget.
The school system awarded a $46.1 million contract to Howard Shockey & Sons. The contract includes about $2 million for a parking lot to accommodate 88 school buses and 100 employee-owned vehicles.
“It is exciting to finally put shovels in the dirt and get rolling on this project,” said Chris R. Fulmer, acting school superintendent.