The Prince William County Republican Committee is poised for its Biennial Convention on March 2, 2024, set to convene at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas. Registration will commence at 8:30 a.m., and proceedings will start at 10 a.m. The event will assemble delegates from the county’s seven magisterial districts.

At the forefront of the convention’s agenda is the election of a successor to outgoing Republican Chairman Jacob Mosser. Additionally, delegates will vote to determine Prince William’s representatives for the Republican conventions of the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts and the state convention.

Mosser expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming elections. “We have an exciting year ahead of us with the 2024 Presidential and Congressional Elections. If you would like to be part of electing conservative leaders who will represent you in Congress, sign up to be a delegate and attend our convention on March 2,” he said.

Interested Prince William County voters can register online at pwcgop.gop or download the Delegate form from the website for submission by mail. The deadline for delegate filings is 5 PM on February 21st, accompanied by a $20 registration fee to offset convention expenses.

Each magisterial district delegation holds the privilege of dispatching five delegates per vote, with a total convention vote limit of 283 and a delegate limit of 1,415. The magisterial districts represented include Brentsville, Coles, Gainesville, Neabsco, Occoquan, Potomac, and Woodbridge.

Individuals aspiring to the position of Chairman must submit a written statement and a nonrefundable $500 filing fee to the Temporary Nominations Committee Chair by 5 p.m. February 21, 2024.

All eligible residents of Prince William County who are voters and aligned with Republican Party principles may partake in the convention. Participants must express in writing their commitment to endorse all Republican nominees for public office in the ensuing election.

In addressing inquiries about the political climate in Northern Virginia and President Trump’s aspirations to sway traditionally blue states such as Virginia, Mosser underscored the potential for the Republican Party to make headway. He cited recent triumphs in local elections and voiced confidence in the party’s message resonating with voters, particularly concerning family values, education, and security.

‘It is not a bottomless blue in Northern Virginia. While the last elections did not give us all the results we wanted, I note that with Ian Lovejoy, we sent a Prince William Republican delegate to Richmond, we added a [Prince William County] School Board member Erica Tredinnick, we held our seats on the County Board of Supervisors and County Chairwoman Anne Wheeler was toppled,” Mosser told Potomac Local.

The one-term Wheeler lost her re-election bid to Deshundra Jefferson in a June 2023 Democratic Primary Election. Jefferson beat Jeanine Lawson, the Republican running for county Board Chair-At large, in the November General Election.

Mosser acknowledged the prospect by responding to President Trump’s remarks regarding flipping Virginia red, citing past surprises in Virginia’s political dynamics. He stressed the significance of competition in shaping the state’s political trajectory, asserting that failure to engage could perpetuate Democrat-progressive dominance.

The GOP’s push comes as the number of Democrats vying for the 7th District Congressional Seat grows. Prince William County Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey announced her candidacy this week and joins a notable roster of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for the 7th District seat, including former U.S. Army Col. Eugene Vindman, a key figure in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, along with Del. Briana Sewell, Del. Elizabeth Guzman, and Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin.

Although election analysts consider the 7th District to lean Democratic, many Republican contenders have also thrown their hats into the ring. Among them are former Special Forces soldier Derrick Anderson, Navy SEAL combat veteran Cameron Hamilton, former Marine Corps officer Jon Meyers, entrepreneur Bill Moher, minister and author Terris Todd, businessman John Prabhudoss, and retired Lt. Col. Jeff Sacks.

Eastern Prince William County, Stafford, Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg lie in the 7th District.

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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At the recent Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting on February 6, 2024, the Prince William County Police Department received recognition for its Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation. Chief of Police Peter Newsham expressed gratitude for the honor, highlighting the significance of the department’s continuous commitment to excellence since 1987.

“This accreditation is just a symbol of that,” Chief Newsham remarked, emphasizing the department’s dedication to promoting progressive community engagement strategies, utilizing data for management decisions, and setting leadership benchmarks among peer agencies.

Newsham then invited Sergeant Byron Jenkins to speak, who proceeded to announce his retirement after 28 years of law enforcement work. Jenkins reflected on the department’s achievements and the significance of February, Black History Month. He commended the efforts of the county’s Black History Month committee and underscored this year’s theme, which focused on African Americans in the arts.

“The new Negro movement promoted racial pride, cultural self-expression, economic independence, and progressive politics,” Sergeant Jenkins stated, highlighting what he called the ongoing relevance of reclaiming identity and combating derogatory stereotypes.

Jenkins drew attention to the nature of racial tropes and stereotypes, emphasizing the need to challenge and eradicate language and imagery that perpetuate harmful narratives. From derogatory terms to outdated caricatures, he underscored the damaging effects of such representations and called for a concerted effort to promote inclusivity and understanding.

“We must challenge and eradicate language and imagery that perpetuate harmful racial tropes and stereotypes. From derogatory terms to outdated caricatures, these representations have deep-rooted consequences and hinder our progress towards true equality and understanding,” continued Jenkins.

Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson, the first black person to serve in the role, echoed the sentiment of appreciation for CALEA’s accreditation process, emphasizing its role in elevating professionalism, accountability, and transparency within law enforcement agencies. She extended commendations to key individuals navigating the reaccreditation process, ensuring the department’s adherence to rigorous standards of excellence.

Prince William police patrol Virginia’s second-largest jurisdiction, with a sworn complement of more than 700 officers when fully staffed. Over the years, the department has achieved a 96% citizen satisfaction rate, according to county surveys.

Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis provided insights into the ongoing search for a new city manager and discussed the results of a recent city employment satisfaction survey.

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Stafford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor addressed the pressing need for additional teachers as student enrollment in the school division continues to climb.

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Ironclad Distillery Co., renowned for its bourbon whiskey production in Newport News, has made waves in the hospitality industry with its recent acquisition of the historic Kenmore Inn in Fredericksburg.

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Despite being far from the Arctic Circle, Fredericksburg is quickly gaining national attention for its “coldest night of the year.”

Area churches and local supporters will gather on Feb. 24, 2024, for its annual fundraiser, “Coldest Night of the Year,” a family-friendly walk to benefit Micah ministries. Micah is a coalition of area churches dedicated to helping Fredericksburg city residents with unmet needs.

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A one-hour lunch break at Stafford County high schools is a thing of the past.

The school division announced it will revert to a three-bell lunch schedule starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Potomac Local was the first to tell you administrators were scrutinizing the extended "power hour" lunch period following the arrest of at least 10 students involved in an early-morning fight at Brooke Point High School on January 29, 2024.

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The Battlefield Restaurant has a pancake on the menu that’s the size of a medium pizza and more than enough for a breakfast entrée. The question is, how do you flip it on the grill?

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