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.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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."
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
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.
Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.
Important links
Key agenda items
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
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.
The Bull Run Rotary Club will host its 8th Annual Flags for Heroes event from November 8 to November 16, 2024, at the Manassas Museum lawn at 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas. This event will feature hundreds of American flags displayed in honor of Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, frontline workers, and Local First Responders who have sacrificed significantly to protect and serve their communities and country.
The opening ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, marking the beginning of this week-long tribute. All proceeds raised through hero sponsorships will benefit the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run, a facility dedicated to supporting wounded veterans by providing them a peaceful place to heal and reconnect with their families.
Over the past eight years, Flags for Heroes has raised over $35,000 in honor of those who have selflessly served. Individuals interested in sponsoring a hero can purchase a flag for $50 each. The sponsorship form allows participants to dedicate a flag in memory or honor of their hero, and all proceeds go directly to supporting the Warrior Retreat.
The event committee encourages the public to visit the display during the week and reflect on the sacrifices made by those represented by each flag. Community members are also invited to the opening ceremony to celebrate and honor these brave individuals.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page. Additionally, to spread awareness, the event will be listed on the Historic Manassas, Inc. (HMI) website and city event alerts.
The City of Manassas has maintained high credit ratings with the two major global credit rating agencies, Moody’s and S&P Global, according to a Monday press release.
These credit ratings ensure the city can borrow money at lower interest rates and signal the city is in a stable financial condition. The lowest rating an entity can receive is a C or D, depending on the agency issuing the rating. These ratings, according to Investopedia, help investors determine the riskiness associated with investing in bonds issued by a company, government or a government agency.
Moody’s gave the city an AAA rating, the highest rating a municipality can get. S&P Global maintained the city’s AAA rating from the previous year.
“The upgraded rating is the result of the commitment and hard work of staff and implementing sound, modern financial policies that benefit the City of Manassas,” Interim City Manager Douglas Keen said.
Lisa Sievel-Otten, the city’s acting communications director, said Manassas first received the AAA rating from S&P Global in July 2016, and has maintained it since. Other than that, the city could not provide more historical data on the credit ratings.
Neighboring localities have also received top ratings from the major rating agencies, including Prince William County, Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria and Fauquier County, to name a few.
Update 2 p.m. Oct. 25: An earlier version of this article stated Moody’s gave the City of Manassas a Aa1 rating. Moody’s gave the city a rating of AAA, and the Aa1 rating was from 2023.Â
Following concerns over underage drinking and unregulated alcohol consumption, the Manassas City Council has implemented a new policy to limit the number of events held downtown. The decision, discussed at the October 21 council meeting, aims to reduce the strain on city resources and improve public safety, particularly for the popular First Friday gatherings in Downtown Manassas.
The policy will reserve one weekend each month as a “respite weekend,” when no significant events will be held in downtown, allowing city infrastructure and staff a much-needed break. Furthermore, city officials are considering reducing the frequency of First Fridays and other recurring events to manage safety risks and improve the experience for residents and local businesses.
Concerns surrounding First Fridays, a popular monthly event featuring a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) where patrons can carry alcohol in marked zones, have escalated in recent months. Text messages exchanged on September 6, 2024, between Interim City Manager Doug Keen and Police Captain Tara Petty revealed growing worries about underage drinking and attendees bringing alcohol purchased outside the event’s permitted areas, including from nearby liquor and convenience stores. The DORA guidelines specify that alcohol should only be purchased from local restaurants participating in the event.
Still, city officials report that many patrons bypass these regulations, undermining public safety and harming local businesses.
“We’re thrilled that Old Town is such a popular destination,” Keen said, “but the high volume of events, particularly First Fridays, has created ongoing safety challenges that we need to address for the well-being of residents, businesses, and visitors.”
As part of the new policy, the city will also evaluate event permits to restrict how often individual organizations can host events in downtown. Some community members have voiced concerns that the abundance of large gatherings, while beneficial for tourism, has led to congestion, parking shortages, and noise, impacting the area’s day-to-day quality of life.
Local businesses have had mixed responses to the policy. Many welcome the changes, citing disruptions during First Fridays and other events that draw large crowds. Business owners note that while events are valuable for drawing new patrons, the influx of people—often with alcohol brought in from outside—can deter regular customers.
“Manassas has become a hub of activity, which is wonderful,” said Councilmember Ralph Smith. “But our priority has to be ensuring these events don’t overburden the community or compromise public safety. This policy lets us strike a balance between tourism and community needs.”
In response, event organizers and local businesses are working with city officials to adjust to the new policy and promote safer, more sustainable event practices. Some First Friday organizers are exploring measures like increased signage about DORA guidelines and added police presence to address potential safety risks.
The city plans to review the new policy after one year, gathering feedback from residents, businesses, and event organizers to ensure it meets the community’s needs.
“The cultural value of the cottage within the community cannot be underestimated,” Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger said.
The cottage used to be the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth (MIS) and was chartered in 1893 by Jennie Dean, a former slave and resident of Prince William County. The structure was originally built on Wellington Road by the existing Jennie Dean Elementary School building but was moved to Jefferson Street in the 1960s.
MIS grew throughout the early 20th century, becoming an African American regional public school for Fairfax, Prince William and Fauquier County students in 1937. Most of the historic buildings that were originally part of the MIS campus were demolished in the 1960s when the structure was moved.
And, Manassas Museum Associates have pledged a $25,000 donation to begin a fundraising campaign to restore and stabilize the cottage; the campaign is expected to launch in early 2025.
If you’re going to the ceremony:
- Where:Â 9506 Jefferson St., Manassas
- When:Â Monday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.
Personal Property Tax bills are due on 11/6. If you wish to pay your bill online, by check, you may need a new account number. Please call/email our Customer Service team at 703-361-9306 or [email protected]. Provide your name, address, and old account number. pic.twitter.com/YlduZMp0Jc
— City of Manassas Park (@ManassasParkGov) October 22, 2024
