Osbourn High School seeks second principal in 2 years

MANASSAS — Joseph Gabalski won’t return next year as Osbourn High School Principal.

Gabalski was named school principal in June 2017. It is the only position he ever held with Manassas City Public Schools and he will exit the school at the end of June.

Gabalski submitted his resignation, Manassas schools spokeswoman Al Radford said.

Gabalski could not be reached for comment. Manassas School Board members did not comment for this story.

A press release announcing his appointment as principal states Gabalski previously worked as an assistant principal for Loudoun County Public Schools between 2007 and 2017 and taught at Stonewall Jackson Senior High School in Prince William County between 2001 and 2006.

The school division posted a job description for a new principal at the city’s only high school, which offers a salary range of $103,000 to $154,770 annually. The school division will begin interviews once the position is closed, said Radford.

Gabalski’s impending exit comes two years after his predecessor, Cathy Benner, was fired by the city school board. Prior to her termination, Benner was placed on two months paid leave and that sparked outcry from parents and students who demanded the school board issue a statement to provide a reason for her suspension and subsequent firing.

It never did.

Benner said it was a discipline situation and a disagreement with the then Superintendent of Schools Dr. Catherine Magouryk that led to her termination.

Osbourn High School was built in 1977 and houses 2,145 students.