The Manassas City School Board is asking the city council to allow it to spend nearly $11 million on the largest office building in Manassas.
With the purchase, the city council threatens the school board to categorically fund the school division in future years if it doesn’t start constructing a new Jennie Dean Elementary School before July 2025. Historically, the city council — which funds the school system due to the school board’s lack of taxing authority — has given a lump sum of cash to pay for school operations, no questions asked.
A new Jennie Dean Elementary School has been a sticking point between the school board and city council, which voted to raise taxes to fund the new school put on the back burner. In contrast, the school division focused on other projects like the purchase of 8700 Centreville Road.
This year, the city council transferred $139 million to the school division, about 55 cents on every dollar the city collected. The school transfer is the largest allocation in the budget.
Last year, the city council entertained purchasing 8700 Centreville Road, which houses Apple Federal Credit Union and several other businesses. The public school division leases a portion of the building to house its administrative office.
The city council held public hearings on the matter in September and October. Few people spoke during the public hearing.
The school said it will use the 56,000-square-foot building that opened 24 years ago, to house its central office, and use the additional space for future programs at the school division headquarters, like career and technical education and daycare, explained school board members.
On Monday, the city council’s proposal would require the schools to house the city’s social services offices and a customer service center for the city’s utility office, where residents may pay utility bills. A new customer service center is now housed in a former DMV at Godwin Drive, and Gateway Boulevard does not have a window for utility payments.
The school board ditched a plan to occupy the old police station on Wellington Road — a structure the city already owns — and complained the building is too small for its needs. It’s unclear what will happen to the old police station now that the department is relocated to a new public safety center on Grant Avenue.
The school division would become a landlord for the existing businesses inside the building until the business leases expire. In November 2023, PLN was there when city council members met the school board with a lukewarm reception when it pitched the idea.
You can read more about the potential transaction here in city documents. The Manassas City Council will take up the matter on its Monday, February 27 meeting, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Jennie Dean Elementary School, 9601 Prince William Street in Manassas.
More than 7,500 students attend Manassas City Public Schools.
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On Saturday, Feb. 2 local musicians and bands are gathering at Strangeways Brewing for the Eric Becker Memorial Concert benefiting the Fredericksburg SPCA.
A member of Radar Theory, bandmate Johnny Boothe said Becker was known for being genuinely caring to everyone in his life. He “loved his friends, his family, and his wife Kathleen deeply,” Boothe said.
Becker and Boothe met in 2021 at an Adventure Brewery Open Mic night and decided to form a band called Radar Theory.
As Prince William County grapples with shifting enrollment patterns, declining birth rates, and increasing school capacity concerns, school leaders are moving forward with plans to open the county’s 14th high school in the 2029-30 school year. The new school, which may feature specialized programs such as robotics and drone labs, is intended to relieve overcrowding in central and eastern Prince William County high schools, including Colgan, Freedom, and Woodbridge. However, with fewer students entering the school system than graduating, the long-term necessity of the new school and countywide redistricting remains a topic of debate. During a school board work session on January 15, officials discussed the declining birth rates and shifting population dynamics shaping school planning. According to data from the Virginia Department of Health, Prince William County recorded 5,761 births last year, a significant drop compared to previous years. The current enrollment pyramid shows a stark difference, with 1,600 fewer students entering kindergarten than those graduating from 12th grade.
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The Prince William County School Board is considering a proposal that would redistrict three new residential developments in the Brentsville District due to overcrowding at The Nokesville School, Insidenova.com reports.
The School Board in November directed division staff to develop a redistricting proposal related to the three developments. The division brought the proposal to the board at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The three developments – Bristow Corner, Bristow Crossing and Thomas Farm at Bristow Station – have already been approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and would be districted to The Nokesville School.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
