The MCPS Board held a budget public hearing during its March 11 meeting, which was largely attended by teachers and employees of the district. The $151 million proposed budget was presented on Feb. 25 with a 5.5% salary increase and a $1 million cut to intervention services for at-risk students.
Kristen Whatley, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in the district, said MCPS needed to increase its minimum salary to stay competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.
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As construction progresses on the new Jennie Dean Elementary School, a debate is unfolding over the future of the existing historic building. The Manassas City School Board is weighing multiple options, including repurposing the facility into a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovation Hub, preserving its legacy, or demolishing it altogether.
A Vision for Vocational Training
At a school board work session on February 27, 2025, Jared Johnson, founder of the Manassas-based nonprofit Larry’s Legacy, proposed transforming the old Jennie Dean Elementary into a CTE Innovation Hub. The initiative aims to expand vocational training opportunities for underrepresented students, introducing pathways in aviation maintenance, culinary arts, performing arts and fashion, pharmacy technician training, residential skilled trades, ROTC, and TV and podcast production.
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The Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) Board received an update on chronic absenteeism in the district on Feb. 25 from Jennifer Cassata, MCPS' executive director of accountability and finance.
Cassata said addressing absenteeism takes a village, and the district has just that. MCPS has employed a hierarchical structure of those accountable for students, including counselors, teachers, attendance officers, administrative associates and principals.
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"We have intentionally designed some of the interior to not only focus on our learning but also honor the legacy of Jennie Dean," Deputy Superintendent Craig Gfeller said at the School Board's Feb. 25 meeting. "... I want to thank our partner, the Manassas Museum, who has been a real partner to us in gathering artifacts to be able to authentically honor the legacy of Jennie Dean."
As of January, construction began on the new school site with safety barriers and signage being installed. Due to inclement weather, the construction crew had to work around cold temperatures and wet conditions, the progress report stated.
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Taft Kelly, MCPS' director of finance, said with proposed staff salary increases of 5.5% — or $5.2 million — and the revenue coming to the district only increasing by $4.7 million, tough decisions had to be made.
"The math ... is not really 'mathing' that well," Kelly said.
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On Feb. 5, the Board formally met for the first time to discuss the intent, purpose and goals of the committee. The first mention of the committee in the new Board term was at the Jan. 28 meeting by Board member Sara Brescia.
Many of the other Board members expressed interest in forming such a committee but wanted to move quickly due to President Donald Trump's swift actions on immigration.
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Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg opened the discussion by acknowledging the Manassas Education Association notification that they intended to begin their campaign: "The MEA would like to initiate their collective bargaining campaign. So we can talk about that in the future, or if you have any questions now, we can try and address them. We’re gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. It’s gonna be a lot."
Board Member Sara Brescia questioned the necessity of the MEA’s formal notification. "I don’t think they had to tell us that they were initiating a collective bargaining campaign." However, she noted that the MEA may have wanted to inform the board before making a public announcement. "They wanted to let us know before they put it on Facebook and heard it from somebody else."
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Weems Elementary School in Manassas has seen remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student literacy. Under the leadership of Principal Michelle Huppman, the school has created an environment focused on equity, achievement, and community involvement, leading to academic improvements.
One of the school's most notable achievements is reducing chronic absenteeism. In the 2022-2023 school year, Weems faced a concerning % chronic absence rate of 28%. This figure, which emerged after the pandemic, reflected the challenges many schools faced. However, the school has halved that number through dedication and hard work. "I am so happy to share with you that Weems' current chronic absence rate, as reflected in the school quality profile, is half of that number, down to 14%. This is a school community that rose to the challenge," said Sarah Brescia, a Manassas City school board member.
The improvement in attendance has had a direct impact on student achievement. Huppman explained, “Last year, we had a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for our students in kindergarten through second grade. For the Virginia Standards of Learning reading test, we had a 6% increase in pass rates for our students in third and fourth grade.” While math scores dropped slightly due to virtual instruction during the pandemic, Principal Huppman is optimistic about the future. "This year, we are fully staffed in all classrooms and in all instructional support positions without the need for virtual instructors," she said.
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Join Uriah Kiser, founder and publisher of Potomac Local News, as he sits down with Dayna-Marie Miles, the newest member of the Manassas City School Board.
In this engaging episode, Dayna-Marie shares her journey to the school board, her priorities for education in Manassas City, and her vision for fostering open communication between the board and the community.
