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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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."
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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.
About 25 residents attended the discussion at The City Tavern Restaurant in Manassas on December 7, 2023.
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The Manassas School Board will hear a revised proposal for a new Dean Elementary School on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
The revisions come after a contentious meeting between the board and Manassas City Council members, some of whom were outraged when they learned contractors would build the replacement school building on top of sports fields at Dean Park, the city's largest park, and some of its last-remaining open space.
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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.”
“The original plan “A” would be to build the new Dean behind the existing Dean and leave all athletic fields and track in place and available for the Dean Sports Complex. Plan “E” was recommended by the School Board. This plan would eliminate the track, a rectangle field, and a diamond and possibly a second diamond.”
“Sara Brescia and Robyn Williams, School Board Members, have been talking with me about options to keep the fields. Plans for public outreach include a presentation from the new Dean architect with public comment time on Dec. 12th at the School Board meeting at Dean at 5:30 pm.”
“I have contacted soccer, football, and baseball leadership to attend my wrap-up meeting and will share more details. Robyn Williams will attend as well.”
“My wrap-up will update the public on more city happenings in all departments, including events.”
Manassas City leaders are at odds over where a new Dean Elementary School will be built.
The replacement school will be built at Dean Memorial Park, on some of the last open spaces in the city, at Wellington Road and Prince William Street. The new school could mean that some amenities like open fields and tennis courts would be cleared to make way for the new two-story school.
