Jennifer Chapman, Ed.D., the new Osbourn High School principal, gave a lengthy presentation to the School Board on Oct. 22 about the school's accreditation, new policies and student performance.
Chapman, who started at Osbourn this summer, was before the Board for nearly 1.5 hours during the three-hour meeting. She acknowledged that OHS wasn't in the best position.
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Recent data presented at the October 22 Manassas City School Board meeting showed that Osbourn High School has seen a significant rise in absenteeism. Over 16% of its student population has been categorized as chronically absent, meaning they miss more than 10% of the school year. This places Osbourn among the city's schools, which are struggling the most with attendance, directly affecting its academic performance and state accreditation.
Student absenteeism has become a growing concern in Manassas City Public Schools, with Osbourn High School facing particularly troubling attendance trends. During a Potomac Local News forum on October 17, 2024, school board candidates and community leaders discussed the root causes of absenteeism and the efforts needed to address this critical issue.
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The Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Osbourn High School is a shining example of how Manassas City Public Schools are preparing students for both college and careers by offering practical, hands-on learning experiences. The program covers a variety of fields, including health sciences, information technology, automotive technology, welding, and cosmetology, helping students gain the technical skills they need to thrive in today’s job market.
During a Potomac Local News forum held on October 17, 2024, Maidy Whitesell, a school board candidate and longtime community volunteer, highlighted the need for expanding the program to meet student demand. "There’s a lot of interest in fields like plumbing and electrical work. These are valuable skills, not just for immediate employment but for life in general. We should continue to expand the program to give our students more opportunities to succeed," Whitesell said during a recent town hall forum on Manassas City schools.
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Manassas City Public Schools face increased scrutiny over falling student performance and a contentious grading policy as the November election approaches. During a recent town hall hosted by Potomac Local News, candidates for the city’s school board and concerned residents discussed the troubling decline in Standards of Learning (SOL) scores and how the division’s grading practices may exacerbate the issue.
In the past year, SOL scores for Manassas students have significantly dropped, leaving the school division well below state averages. Two of the city’s schools, Osbourn High School and Metz Middle School, remain partially accredited under pandemic-era standards and struggle to meet performance benchmarks. Caitlyn Meisner, our Manassas Local Editor, covering the school board for Potomac Local News, has followed the downward trend closely since late 2023.
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One of the most pressing concerns discussed during the town hall was increased student behavioral problems, which have created significant classroom disruptions. School board candidate Javanese Hailey, a former teacher at Metz Middle School, shared her experience with a lack of accountability in the school.
"When I worked at Metz in 2019, there was just an absolute lack of accountability. The kids were allowed to do whatever they wanted, and there were no consequences," Hailey said. "I had seventh graders who were on third-grade level academically, and that, coupled with behavioral issues, created chaos. It felt like something was going to break down at any moment."
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 28 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
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Robinson made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of “Hairspray” as Seaweed. Since then, he’s been in various Broadway productions, including “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” “Hair,” “Ragtime,” “The Lion King,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “The Book of Mormon” and “Les MisĂ©rables.”
During his three days with the choir, Robinson taught a three-hour masterclass, discussed his journey to Broadway, provided students with industry insights and took questions from students. A ninth-grade student, Maliya Trammell, performed “Rise Up,” and Robinson provided acting tips through song.
Sherlee Glomb, the OHS choral director, collaborated with Robinson to build anticipation for the spring musical, “Night on Broadway.” Students will also have the opportunity to attend Broadway and touring productions in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
Robinson performed his staple audition piece, “Hold On” from “The Secret Garden” and joined the Osbourn High choir during their finale piece with Laura Mills, an OHS choir alumna and president of the ARTfactory.
We just wrapped up an important discussion on the state of Manassas City Public Schools in our latest podcast episode, featuring insights from local education leaders and school board candidates. This special forum covered pressing issues facing our schools and presented diverse perspectives on how we can collectively move forward.
In this episode, you'll hear from Robyn Williams, an eight-year school board member now running for City Council, and Caitlyn Meisner, our dedicated local editor covering Manassas City Public Schools since 2023. Several candidates endorsed by the city's Republican committee, running for four open school board seats, also joined the discussion, including Allie Forkell, Javanese Hailey, Dayna Jackson-Miles, and Maidy Whitesell.
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Following months of heated discussion about Grace E. Metz Middle School's declining Standard of Learning (SOL) scores and school culture, new Principal Juliet Finnegan vows to lead the school toward improvement. Finnegan, who took over in July 2024, replaces Gary Morris, who left earlier this year after just two years. Her appointment comes amid ongoing debates about tackling the school's challenges.
