Sara Birkhead

The meeting was a joint session between the City Council and the School Board to discuss the plans for the new Jenny Dean Elementary School. The primary focus was the progress on Concept E2.2, which the School Board supported as it addressed concerns previously voiced by the City Council regarding green space and remained within budget (under $62 million). The School Board maintained that Concept E2.2 was preferable to Concept E2.3, as E2.3 involved the demolition of the old Jenny Dean building, which the board wishes to preserve for future use, and E2.3 was over budget. The discussion also touched upon long-term planning, noting that Williams Elementary School will require major renovation or replacement by 2035, emphasizing the need to preserve the asset represented by the current Jenny Dean site.

The meeting commenced with the call to order, a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a quorum confirmation. Key agenda items included superintendent announcements and spotlights recognizing Osborne High School journalism students for their achievements and several Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) nominees for the Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award across various schools. Board member Suzanne Seabourg was also honored with the 2025 Regional Elected Leadership Award. Public comments included a formal request to reconsider the timing of the 2027 MCPS spring break to align with neighboring counties and traditional scheduling, citing concerns about parental scheduling conflicts. The discussion agenda included facilities and maintenance updates regarding the ongoing construction projects at Jenny Dean Elementary School and the Osborne Connector, confirming both projects are currently on schedule and budget.

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, followed by the confirmation of a quorum. The agenda was modified to include a discussion on VOE accreditation and accountability ratings. Spotlight segments recognized winners of the 'If I Were Mayor' essay contest, presented musical and dance performances by Baldwin Elementary School students, honored Rebecca Kerilis as the VFW Teacher of the Year for her dedication to citizenship and patriotism, and presented a VSBA delegate assembly certificate to Schoolboard member Diana Brown. The Academic Committee reported on proposed new courses for the 26-27 school year, including specialized subjects for Osman High School and METS Middle School, and recommended adding Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa to the 2025-2026 calendar. The committee also extensively discussed the placement of Spring Break on the 2026-2027 calendar, ultimately deciding to adhere to the established calendar developed via a survey process. The Facilities and Maintenance update indicated that the construction of the new Jenny Dean Elementary School remains on schedule and on budget, with recent milestones including the completion of the underground stormwater system and significant progress in enclosing the building through roofing and masonry work. Discussions also took place during public comments regarding the postponement of school board stipends and appreciation for the responsible stewardship shown by board members in that decision.

The session was the first budget work session for the FY27 budget, focusing on Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) updates and initial revenue projections. Planned CIP updates for FY27 include closing out the New Dean project, completing the second phase of a men's bathroom refurbishment focusing on ADA accessibility, updating flooring throughout a school, and playground updates at Brown Elementary School in partnership with the city. Potential projects dependent on revenue include additional technology upgrades, new school buses, and security camera upgrades at Osborne High School. Discussions around revenue projections involved anticipating potential decreases in Title II (professional development) and Title III (ESOL) funding, projecting a 3% increase in city revenue, and planning to utilize fund balance for a textbook adoption expected in FY27. The board also reviewed the Local Composite Index (LCI) for the 2026-2028 biennium, noting a decrease which is expected to result in more state funding. A detailed budget timeline was presented, with final budget adoption anticipated for March 24th.

The meeting included recognition of Osborne High School for being named a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School and Rubeli Najaro for the Virginia Music Educators Association Senior Honor Choir. Updates were provided on the Jenny Dean Elementary School construction, including progress on the underground storm water retention system and building structure. The design of outdoor learning spaces at the new school was discussed, highlighting features such as the storm water system, outdoor amphitheater, play areas, greenhouse, and raised beds to support student learning and connect to the legacy of the Manasses Industrial School.