On February 20, 2024, the Manassas City Council will meet to discuss matters regarding education infrastructure and the development of the Jennie Dean Elementary School.

The agenda for the meeting encompassed various topics, including updates on the construction progress of the new Jennie Dean Elementary School. Furthermore, council members deliberated on the current condition of the existing school building and explored potential uses for the former Jennie Dean Elementary School building.

Among the proposed options were considerations for expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE), establishing a STEM Center, or accommodating alternative education programs. Additionally, the council reviewed the school replacement schedule to ensure timely and efficient infrastructure upgrades.

Another significant point of discussion centered on identifying a suitable permanent central office location to streamline administrative operations within the school district. Progress updates on the Osbourn High School Connector project were also provided during the meeting, highlighting the council’s commitment to improving educational facilities and resources for the community.

The Manassas City School Board unanimously approved plans for the new Jennie Dean Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, advancing the project to the city’s Planning Commission for further review. This decision follows months of deliberation and planning to address the city’s educational needs. Previous reports by Potomac Local News highlighted tensions between the City Council and School Board regarding the project’s prioritization.

During a closed work session on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, the Board discussed various design options with Superintendent Kevin Newman, ultimately settling on concept E-2.5, which entails specific placements for the building, including a baseball field, playground, field, and bus loop.

The proposed two-story school, expected to accommodate 1,000 students, will feature advanced facilities such as an IT workspace, broadcast booth, and collaborative learning areas. Estimated at a cost of at least $87 million, the school will be situated within Jennie Dean Park, near the existing Jennie Dean school constructed in the early 1960s.

The project’s architects are evaluating potential sites adjacent to the current school, known as Dean Park, with the Planning Commission scheduled to review the plans on April 3, following the cancellation of the initial March 6 meeting. Approval from the Commission will precede a vote by the City Council, signaling the next steps in the development of this crucial educational infrastructure.

The joint meeting will take place at the John Conner III Public Safety Facility, Second Floor Policy Room, 9608 Grant Avenue, Manassas, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

The Manassas City School Board voted unanimously Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, to approve the plans for Jennie Dean Elementary School, moving it forward to the city’s Planning Commission for further approval and discussion.

This decision comes after months of discussions, planning, and devising an amenable school plan to fit the city’s needs. Previous reporting from Potomac Local News has shown contention between City Council and the School Board about this project, which has focused on other projects.

The Board met on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in a closed work session to discuss recent updates with Superintendent Kevin Newman, Ed.D.

At the Tuesday meeting, the Board and Newman considered three design options, all with different placements of the building: a baseball field, a playground, a field, and a bus loop. The group ultimately decided on concept E-2.5.

Board member Jill Spall said this had been a very long process and expressed frustrations with the back-and-forth in joint meetings with the City Council.

“At some point, we just need to move forward,” Spall said. “I’m happy and proud of 2.5 that we’re putting forward, and there’s been a lot of work … and thought that’s gone into making this plan. And what’s getting mired is the fact that we have a great design committee … that is working hard and moving forward.”

Board member Sara Brescia then clarified the process moving forward for those listening.

“This is an unusual process to build a school,” Brescia said. “My point in asking is that this doesn’t mean the shovels are going into the ground tomorrow, that there is still a lot of discussion that’s going to be happening here.”

At the time of the meeting, the Planning Commission was slated to meet on March 6, but the meeting has since been canceled. The next time the Commission will meet is April 3. If the plan is approved, then the City Council will be the next to vote.

which is expected to cost at least $87 million and sit in the heart of Jennie Dean Park. According to public documents, the two-story school will hold about 1,000 students and feature an IT workworm, a broadcast booth, and collaborative learning areas.

The school will be built near the existing Jennie Dean school, which was built in the early 1960s. The architects must select a site for the new school and have weighed some options next to the school, known as Dean Park.

In addition to the vote, the School Board heard from multiple district principals and administrators for School Board Appreciation Month. Principals from multiple schools at different levels gave short presentations on arts and music, career-technical classes, and literacy. The Board also celebrated the clerk of the Board, Alba Garza, who was honored and thanked by administrators for Clerk Appreciation Week,

The next scheduled Board meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2024.

Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Following the Jan. 23, 2024, meeting of the Manassas City School Board, community members, parents, and Board members have engaged in a heated discussion about the future of Grace E. Metz Middle School.

The status report given by second-year Principal Gary Morris at the meeting sparked calls to action to improve Standard of Learning scores and the overall school culture.

School Board member Sara Brescia said the unique nature of Metz – having a 50% turnover rate each school year because the school houses only children in 7th and 8th grades – makes building a consistent, positive culture challenging.

“I think it creates a challenge, getting to know your whole new batch of kids,” Brescia said. “Our division has worked on – and I think has made a lot of improvements – in smoothing out that transition from school to school. … But it does make it somewhat challenging to have to get to know 50% of your school.”

She said this also impacts the SOL scores, which may explain why it may fluctuate greatly from year to year.

“If you have a group of seventh graders [coming] in, and it turns out they are very strong in reading, well, all of Metz is going to improve very quickly,” Brescia said. “But in two years, when they’re in ninth grade, and who knows, maybe the previous fifth graders were not as strong, … the numbers can be very sensitive in that way.”

Brescia said she is ultimately optimistic about the progress Metz can make under Morris’ tenure. Board member Robyn Williams echoed this.

“I am committed to a reflective and constructive assessment of the ways in which we can foster greater academic success at Metz,” Williams said in an email. “I recognize that the school’s challenges are multifaceted as this age group begins to shape into young adults. It is imperative to nurture high expectations at this juncture in our young students’ academic journey.”

In an online discussion regarding the initial Board meeting where Metz was discussed, several commenters brought attention to the large population of English for Speakers of Other Languages students, particularly how these students may be harming SOL scores and English-speaking students. Some called for the removal of these students into different programs altogether. Across the city, there are over 2,000 ESOL students from more than 27 languages, according to the MCPS website.

But, removing ESOL students is illegal. Based on the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 – an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 –entitles children enrolled in public schools to have equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, sex or national origin, which includes language minority students.

“It’s never been considered because it’s not legal [and] it’s not possible,” Brescia said.

According to research studies and Brescia’s personal experience, immersion is the best way to learn a new language.

“The advice is not to sit in the classroom as long as possible, getting drilled in grammar and vocabulary,” Brescia said. “It’s also not a good idea if your goal is to get kids to learn a second language.”

And, in a Feb. 4, 2024, letter to the editor, Williams and Brescia point to other schools in MCPS with large ESOL populations that are succeeding, namely Round Elementary.

“Round meets and even exceeds the state average SOL scores in every academic category,” the letter reads.

The School Board will continue to hear from Metz as the school year progresses and keep track of the school’s SOL scores as they become available. The next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at 6 p.m., at Jennie Dean Elementary School, 9601 Prince William Street, in Manassas.

Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Dear Editor,

We write to you as individual members of the Manassas City School Board regarding the recent article “Metz Middle scores decline…” and the significant online discussion that ensued.

As Board members and parents alike, we share the community’s concern and frustration regarding the disappointing SOL results at Metz Middle School.
The related online conversation about Metz has highlighted the number of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) within our student body. Schools with a high share of English language learners obviously face challenges. That’s the reality.

However, we reject the notion that a high share of ESOL students inevitably condemns Metz to its current level of performance. To move forward, we must thoughtfully and accurately identify the problems facing our middle school, and we firmly believe that our students can achieve at a higher level.

We know this is possible by comparing Metz to other school systems with similar demographics. Neighboring Manassas Park Middle School, for example, had an 8th-grade math SOL exam pass rate over twice ours: 62% at Manassas Park Middle versus 29% at Metz.

We can also look within our own school system for evidence of our students’ potential:

• Round Elementary, a Manassas City elementary school, is a majority ESOL school. And yet, Round meets and even exceeds the state average SOL scores in every academic category. It currently has a 7 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.org.
• More generally, our elementary schools succeed at getting our youngest students to acquire English literacy skills. As shown by the state’s spring PALS assessment, which tracks early literacy in grades K through 2, MCPS is within a few points of the state average. This is despite having a much higher share of ESOL students.
• While the pass rate for 7th-grade math at Metz was only 30%, in contrast, at Mayfield Intermediate- with students just one year younger- the pass rate for 6th-grade math was a much higher 67% (six points above the state average). Both schools have a similar share of ESOL students.

Metz Middle School’s current level of SOL performance is, therefore, not destiny, and we are committed to a reflective and constructive assessment of ways we can foster greater academic success.

While the reasons for troubles at Metz are complex and long in the making, it is our belief that the Manassas City School Board can do more to nurture high academic standards and spur student achievement. With this in mind, we must revisit the School Board’s currently adopted grading policy.

The School Board’s grading policy requires of Metz that:

• All assignments receive no less than 50% credit, even if never attempted or completed;
• All assignments are required to receive full credit up to the last day of the grading period, preventing teachers from enforcing deadlines; and
• All tests and quizzes are guaranteed an automatic retake for full credit.
  We acknowledge that there are plausible arguments for implementing any of these items individually. However, MCPS is the only public school system in the region that does all of these things together, and we believe they holistically lower student performance.

It is not surprising to us that, with rules like these, many middle schoolers–who are becoming teenagers and discovering their independence–conclude that they do not need to put forth much effort or even show up to class. This policy communicates to students that it is OK not to attempt all of their assignments since they can never get less than 50% credit, that procrastination is harmless since all assignments can be submitted at any point in the grading period, and that it is OK not to study for the first time taking a test since there is always a retake.

As every parent knows, children meet the level of expectations set for them. It is essential to foster an environment where every student is encouraged to fully apply themselves. This grading policy does the opposite of that, helping drive a student culture of low expectations.

We attempted to start the process of reforming the grading policy this past summer. However, the majority of the Board chose to leave the policy unchanged. Reflecting on the recent Metz test scores, this is now an opportune time to reconsider.

Metz Middle School faces challenges. While there is no singular solution, the path to improvement is paved with high expectations, consistent effort, and positive study habits. We steadfastly believe in our students’ ability to achieve excellence. While demographics provide context, they do not define outcomes.

Our kids and our community deserve a better-performing Metz.

Sara Brescia and Robyn Williams
Manassas City School Board Members

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The Manassas City School Board met on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2o24, in a regular meeting to discuss Grace E. Metz Middle School, revise the calendar, and send off a longtime colleague.

The School Board heard from Grace E. Metz Middle School Principal Gary Morris on student academic success, challenges faced by the school, strategies to improve the workforce, and communication with parents.

Morris first showed Metz’s statistics from previous years, starting with the Standards of Learning pass rates from the 2021-2022 and 2022-23 school years, which had declined in every category except geometry.

“We did take a hit, and I want you to know that we are – as a staff and me personally as principal – very disappointed in the outcomes of our work,” Morris said. “However, what I am very, very excited about is the work that we’re doing to move forward.”

Morris then moved to discuss the school’s accreditation indicators, which have dropped from 2022 to 2023. English was bumped from level one to level two, and chronic absenteeism was bumped from level two to level three. The higher the number, the lower the indicator.

He showed the SOL pass rates compared to the entire state, and Metz only surpassed state averages twice: in 2021-22 algebra and 2022-23 geometry.

Morris also addressed Metz’s challenges going into the 2023-24 school year, including chronic absenteeism, learning gaps, a new instructional model, and a connection to the community.

“[Chronic absenteeism is] no different when they tell you on the plane, ‘Put your mask on before you put anyone else’s mask on,’” Morris said. “We have to have our students in school for us to impact … their academic achievement.”

He described some of the school’s initiatives to address students’ chronic absenteeism this year. Morris said targeted support, phone calls, “No Tardy Parties” and recognition of efforts has helped. Per his presentation, students with nine or more absences in January decreased from 41% in 2022-23 to 24.5% in 2023-24.

“While 24.5% is not exactly where we want to be … the chronically absent percentage by the end of the year is what we’re trying to impact,” Morris said. “Our work last year in terms of engagement and changing the culture in our building worked out in our favor. … What we hope to do this year is to take that 24.5% this year and drop that down much lower, too.”

Morris also discussed how Metz Middle is trying to align with the Manassas City Public School Strategic Plan’s four pillars. He said last year was an adaptation year, but this year, the school is dedicated to taking a “whole school approach.”

Board members Robyn Williams and Jill Spall complimented Morris’ work to decrease chronic absenteeism this year, while Sara Brescia highlighted the SOL accomplishments in Algebra 1 and Geometry exams.

The Board then approved a change to the 2025 fiscal year budget work session calendar and the 2024 regular business meeting calendar due to the districtwide closure on March 5. The March 5 budget work session was rescheduled to February 29, and a regular business meeting was added on March 21.

Both student representatives on the Board commended The Washington Post’s nominees for Principal and Teacher of the Year, and many Board members doled out well wishes to Andy Hawkins, the new assistant superintendent of finance and management services at Arlington Public Schools, previously an executive director of finance and operations in Manassas.

Board member Brescia discussed Morris’ presentation and the problems at Metz Middle School.

“It’s clear to me that our students need our help urgently,” Brescia said. “All students are our students, each of these kids fit into our system as a whole and 29% proficiency in a core subject is a cry for help.”

Brescia said the Board needed to discuss possible monthly reports on attendance from each school to track attendance records more regularly.

The meeting adjourned after nearly two hours.

Caitlyn Meisner is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

“Representatives from the contractor working on the new Jennie Dean Elementary School recently presented updated plans to the Manassas City Public School Board, including space for keeping sports fields on the site, reports Emily Seymour at Insidenova.com. “The proposed design plan is a version of design “Concept E,” which would place the school on the northern part of the site and would displace the fields that currently exist.”

Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis held an end-of-year wrap-up discussion focused on rebuilding Jennie Dean Elementary School and the potential loss of open park fields.

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The Manassas School Board will hear a revised proposal for a new Dean Elementary School on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

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Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis: "After the new Dean School construction plan was presented by the Manassas City School Board to the Manassas City Council last Thursday, I planned a Year End Wrap-Up for this upcoming [Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, 5:30 p.m., City Tavern, 9550 Center Street, Manassas], and have invited the public to hear more details and welcome questions."

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