Coraggio Consulting
Manassas City School Board Meeting - January 13, 2026

Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Place: Manassas City Public Schools / School Board meeting, Virginia
Length: 0h 50m (video)
Official meeting video (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-StJV4i660

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-17. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:00:07] this time is 6:00 p.m. so please join me for a moment of silence if we could all

[00:00:19] stand followed by the Pledge of Allegiance thank you madam clerk could

[00:00:58] you please call the roll yes ma'am chair Spall present vice chair Jones here mrs. Siebert here mrs. Stevens here mrs. Brescia present miss Brown miss miles here here mr. moon here thank you madam chair we have a forum excellent dr. Newman are there any additions or deletions to the agenda tonight no ma'am

[00:01:32] thank you second all those in favor say aye all those opposed say nay we will now hear the superintendent's announcements and spotlights mrs. Radford you have the floor thank you chair Spall and good evening to all other school board members here tonight and to everyone that has joined us in the audience it's

[00:02:11] always nice Happy New Year to everyone this is our first meeting of the new year and I am very pleased to stand before you tonight to present our spotlights and our announcements we do have some students that are with us so I'm not sure who's joining us down front we will begin tonight with Osborne High School journalism students recognition so we would like to say congratulations to our Osborne High School journalists for their rankings in the 2025 VHSL evaluations.

[00:02:49] Ms. Garza, do you have a picture up front? Thank you. Yes. And you can see before you, they won second place ranking for their yearbook, superior ratings in theme, cover design, overall design, photography, headlines, captions, sports coverage, and AP style they won second place ranking for Osborne today their morning show superior ratings for professionalism anchoring camera work and design and graphics and they won second place ranking for their talent news website

[00:03:25] with superior ratings for news coverage diversity and inclusivity opinion writing design headlines and understanding of copyright law Miss Lisa Miller is here tonight with several students she is their teacher and advisor so I'm going to ask her to come forward and the students as I call your names Malia Stewart who is a journalist Ian Knox journalist and editor and Brie

[00:03:51] Moody journalist and editor. Ms. Miller's program always does so well at these

[00:04:07] competitions and so we just want to congratulate them tonight. Congratulations

[00:05:12] thank you. I think Natalia came in after we already had the name so congratulations to Natalia as well. Okay this is fun we have the Washington Post Teacher of the Year nominees. Each year the Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award honors educators who exemplify excellence in our classrooms and school

[00:05:50] communities. The award recognizes individuals who inspire learning, demonstrate strong subject knowledge, foster collaboration, and lead by example. Earlier this fall, Monassad City Public Schools invited our community to submit nominations for the award and we received many many thoughtful submissions highlighting the outstanding work happening across our schools tonight it is my honor to introduce our mcps nominees for the 26th washington post teacher of the year award these educators represent the very best of our division and we are proud to recognize their

[00:06:27] dedication leadership and impact to our students on our students from balden elementary school Rebecca Nevis. Rebecca Nevis is a passionate kindergarten teacher with 12 years of experience creating engaging, organized, and inclusive classrooms where students feel safe, confident, and empowered. A mentor to new teachers and an expert in supporting multilingual learners,

[00:07:02] she believes every student and educator needs a committed adult to help spark their growth. Congratulations, Ms. Nevis. Next from Jenny Dean Elementary School, we have Anne Marie Alves.

[00:07:25] With more than 19 years in education, Anne Marie Alves brings innovation, energy, and unwavering work ethic to every classroom. She is known for her strengths in cooperative learning, classroom management, and technology integration, all grounded in her belief that every child can succeed when they feel supported and valued.

[00:07:46] Congratulations, Ms. Alves. Next from Hayden Elementary School, We have Diana Garcia-Sandigo. Ms. Sandigo is a dual Spanish teacher with over 13 years of experience.

[00:08:06] She creates inclusive, data-driven, and project-based learning environments that inspire curiosity and critical thinking. Her enthusiasm and commitment empower students to develop authentic language skills and prepares them for success in a connected world.

[00:08:23] Congratulations. And from Rowan Elementary School, Dina Caracciolo. Ms. Caracciolo has dedicated more than 35 years to education and has served MCPS in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, lead science teacher, and she is currently a gifted and talented educator at Round.

[00:08:52] Known for her enthusiasm, organization, and collaborative spirit, she inspires students and colleagues alike to strive for excellence. Congratulations. Our last elementary school, Weems Elementary, Nicole Nguyen.

[00:09:14] Ms. Wynn is the lead reading support teacher at Weems Elementary and has spent 12 years helping young readers build confidence through their small group, through small groups, evidence-based instruction. As a literacy leader, she supports teachers across the school and division, guided by her belief that every child is a reader waiting to find the right book.

[00:09:37] Congratulations. And at the intermediate level from Baldwin Intermediate, Darrell Fullard. Darrell Fullard has more than 14 years of experience as a music educator, inspiring students through his passion and ability to connect learning to the transformative power of music.

[00:10:05] His work has made a lasting impact on students and the school community by fostering resilience, creativity, and engagement. Congratulations to you. And from Mayfield Intermediate, we have Patricia Torres Gonzalez.

[00:10:28] Patricia Torres-Gonzalez has taught sixth grade math, science, and Spanish language arts at Mayfield Intermediate since 2018 and is a leader in the school's dual language program. She is known for building strong relationships, maintaining high expectations, and creating culturally responsive learning experiences that build confidence and belonging.

[00:10:52] Congratulations. Mets Middle School, Taylor Mosser.

[00:11:09] Ms. Mosser brings eight years of experience and has co-taught across 11 content areas, demonstrating exceptional adaptability and dedication to meeting diverse student needs. She creates classrooms where curiosity and confidence thrive, inspiring students to love learning and to reach their goals.

[00:11:28] Congratulations to you. And finally, from Osborne High School, Payal Saxena. Ms. Saxena has more than 14 years of teaching experience, including nine at Osborne, where she has transformed chemistry into a discovery-driven, real-world learning experience.

[00:11:56] A champion for equity and student success, she is admired for building confidence, communicating with families, and empowering learners to excel. Congratulations to you. So we cannot announce the division winner of the award tonight.

[00:12:16] As per the Washington Post, all school system finalists are under embargo until late April. So in the meantime, please join me in applauding all of our nominees who will also be celebrated later on at a division dinner.

[00:13:09] Paparazzi has arrived. No, I didn't. No, no, you didn't. Everyone is so proud of you. Thank you all so much.

[00:13:25] Congratulations. Oh, sorry. Before our principals leave, you know, it's Principal Appreciation Week.

[00:13:44] And so we'd just like all of you to stand and let us celebrate you while you're here. Thank you to all of our principals for the amazing work that you do.

[00:14:01] We appreciate you. Wait a moment for the room.

[00:14:22] Thank you for your patience. We have one more spotlight.

[00:14:48] Okay. Our next spotlight is honoring Suzanne Seberg for the 2025 Regional Elected Leadership Award. So I'm going to ask you to come down if you don't mind. Tonight, we are recognizing board member Suzanne Seberg for receiving the 2025 Regional Elected Leadership Award, an honor that reflects years of leadership on behalf of Manassas City Public Schools.

[00:15:17] This award brings together elected leaders across the region who are working collaboratively to address shared challenges. Being selected reflects the respect Mrs. Seberg has earned from peers across jurisdictions, not just within our division.

[00:15:35] In reflecting on this honor, Mrs. Seberg has noted that the recognition represents nine years of service and the many individuals who have worked alongside her to support students, families, and the broader community.

[00:15:56] Mrs. Seberg has also shared that leadership in action begins with collaboration, courage, humility, and respect. It includes listening, building trust, and keeping the focus on what best serves students. Mrs. Seberg has expressed her belief that our region is stronger when leaders build bridges, lead generously, and work on behalf of all communities.

[00:16:22] At this time, I'll pause on these images that capture highlights from the recognition and invite Chair Spall to share a few reflections on Mrs. Seberg's leadership and what this recognition represents.

[00:16:38] - Good evening, everyone. I haven't been here on this podium very often. I just wanted to say that tonight we gather not simply to present an award, but to recognize something far more meaningful, which is leadership that has earned the respect of peers and strengthened the work we do together.

[00:16:54] This honor is especially significant because it comes from this, a community of elected and civic leaders who understand the complexity of service, the weight of decision-making, and the responsibility of stewardship. Recognition here is not given lightly.

[00:17:09] It reflects trust, credibility, and impact. In honoring Suzanne tonight with this award of distinction, reflect on a person who leads with both clarity and humility she listens before she speaks she works to build consensus without compromising principles and she understands that progress is rarely about spotlight moments but about steady thoughtful work that brings people together around shared goals Suzanne's leadership has elevated not just our own jurisdiction but our region as a whole through collaboration persistence and an unwavering commitment to public service Suzanne

[00:17:46] has helped align voices, bridge differences, and move important work forward. Perhaps most importantly, this award recognizes someone who embodies the values we hold in common: service over self, partnership over division, and long-term vision over short-term gain. To be honored by this network is to be affirmed by those who know the work best, and this recognition reflects the profound respect this group has for the leader we celebrate tonight. On behalf of our entire division, thank you for your leadership, your integrity, and your continued commitment to the collective good is my privilege to work alongside

[00:18:20] such a wonderful mentor and friend thank you this concludes our spotlights for

[00:19:08] tonight thank you we'll now move to board committee reports I believe we're just getting started for the new year with a lot of new positions so we'll be hearing

[00:19:40] from those committees soon at this time we welcome members of the public who wish to speak about services policies and affairs of the city of Manassas public schools because we have an agenda to complete we ask that the comments be limited to three minutes we appreciate the time you've taken to be here we treat public comments as a public hearing and do not engage in conversation with speakers the lack of an immediate response to your comments should not be taken as a lack of interest or a lack of concern please be respectful when and presenting your comments.

[00:20:17] - And I have one person, which is Dr. Robin Miller-Young. - I'm the Manatee Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Kevin Newman, and esteemed MCPS school board members.

[00:20:38] My name is Dr. Robin Miller-Young, and I'm the director of Grace Children's Learning Center, the GCLC, an early childhood program located at 9750 Wellington Road in the NASA's 20110. We employ 35 educators at the GCLC and a joint facility with the Grace United Methodist Church.

[00:21:00] We provide care and education services to approximately 110 children on a daily basis. I'm speaking with you today to ask you to reconsider the timing of the MCPS 2027 Spring Break. It is currently scheduled to be held from Monday, March 29th, to Friday, April 2nd.

[00:21:20] This means it would start on the Monday after Easter and then end on the Friday of that week. We would like you to consider changing it so that it would start on Monday, March 22nd, and end on Friday, March 26th. The proposed break would start on the Monday after Palm Sunday and then end on the Friday before Easter.

[00:21:41] The MCPS website states that the calendar is subject to periodic revision by the school board and any changes will be communicated as early as possible. So here's the rationale for our request that you think about this change. First, as it stands, there's now a mismatch or a misalignment between the MCPS 2027 spring break, which was adopted over a year ago, and the Prince William County spring break, which was just adopted last month.

[00:22:11] In fact, the proposed MCPS 2027 spring break does not align with the spring breaks of three other nearby counties, including Fairfax, Loudon, and Stafford. It defeats the purpose of having a spring break if the MCPS and the nearby counties do not break at the same time, as parents who live in one of those entities will be unable to take time off when their children are also off.

[00:22:35] The second MCPS spring break has taken place for more than 10 years between the Monday after Palm Sunday through the following Friday, what some people call Holy Week, although there's not a holy component to the reason that we're asking you to look at this.

[00:22:51] So the decision to move it a week later is a significant departure from what the usual MCPS spring break time has been. So we're requesting that you take a look at moving the 2027 spring break to Monday, March 22nd through Friday, March 26th.

[00:23:08] This would be congruent with the MCPS practice of at least the last 10 years, and it would allow parents and children who might otherwise experience different breaks to be able to spend that time together. At the very least, we hope you would create a new group of stakeholders to consider this issue as your decision was made more than a year ago, and we would like you to revisit it.

[00:23:27] We thank you very much for your time and attention to this important calendar issue. Wow. Holy goodness. I'm so glad I practiced that. Thank you, Dr. Miller-Young. We appreciate you. The next item is the consent agenda.

[00:23:45] These items are considered routine and may be approved by a single motion unless a board member requests an item to be removed for separate discussion. Chair, I move that we adopt the consent agenda.

[00:24:02] Second. Ms. Brescia made a motion seconded by Dr. Vice Chair Jones that the school board of the City of Manassas approve the consent agenda as presented. All in favor? Anyone? Thank you. I think that's a 7-0.

[00:24:26] We will now move to the discussion agenda. The first item is facilities and maintenance updates for Jenny Dean Elementary Construction and the Osborne Connector Construction. Mr. Grafeller you have the stage. Good evening Chair Spall, Vice Chair Jones, Dr. Newman and members of the board.

[00:24:45] Tonight, I'm going to provide brief updates on two important capital improvement projects, the construction progress of the Jenny Dean Elementary School site and the Osborne Connector. First, I want to share an overall update on the Jenny Dean Elementary School construction project for the month of December.

[00:25:07] So throughout the month of December, the project coordination remains strong. As the project continues to advance into the interior construction of the project, of the construction phases, the workforce has steadily increased. There are approximately 120 workers on site daily at the construction site, and this reflects a significant progress in what's occurring on the inside of the building, which I have some pictures to show you here in a moment.

[00:25:34] From a site work perspective, work is focused on advancing stormwater management systems. Preparation for the winter has remained and continues in the areas of the major underground utilities have already been installed, and the crews have shifted their work towards the hardscape preparation, backfilling and grading on the site itself.

[00:25:57] Inside the building, the construction team has made major progress, which you'll see in a moment, on building the enclosure. The roofing and structural wall systems advanced across multiple areas, which is critical because it allows the interior work to continue through the winter months.

[00:26:14] This enclosure progress has enabled the interior crews to expand framing, mechanical and electrical plumbing rough-ins, and the finish trade preparation in the classroom wings. The mechanical and electrical equipment installations have advanced in service rooms as additional long-lead components, components that we've had to order almost a year ago, are arriving.

[00:26:40] And the product has completed the work and will continue through in preparation for the cold weather to work on the interior of the building, which I'm going to show you here in a moment. Some of the most exciting milestones are visible as the building begins to take fully in its shape.

[00:26:59] Administrative and kindergarten wings are nearing full dry-in, meaning they're starting to work on the drywall and construction on the inside. And the exterior progress continues to see, and you'll see some final brick, and the facade materials are being installed last month and this month. This is an important stage where the community can increasingly see the identity of the new school coming together.

[00:27:19] Throughout this work, the communication and coordination with school leadership and city leadership has remained effective and consistent, ensuring that construction activities do not disrupt the school operations or our student learning. Looking ahead, the current priorities remain focused on completing the dry-in areas across the full building, advancing interior finishes, and monitoring the schedule as the winter months and the weather continues to unfold.

[00:27:47] The team is also continuing aligning the work inside the building to ensure that the different trades are scheduled appropriately to remain on track. And it would not be an update without telling you that we are on track and on budget, on time.

[00:28:04] Well, to get us on time, we are on track. So I want to share just some pictures. So you'll see here's some exterior. So it's really different than what we saw during my last update. So this is foam insulation on the outside of the building. and you can see the brick, what the final brick will look like that was selected more than a year ago.

[00:28:25] So to just see those samples now actually going onto the building are pretty exciting. So a little bit of a step back to see the building itself so you can see that coming together and the work is really happening over there. This is inside the office area so you'll see the drywall actually going up and framing.

[00:28:43] It's looking more and more like an office area and so this will continue to progress very quickly. what we were talking about back in November where we were talking about the roof work, getting the roofs on so that it would allow this to happen through the winter. This is one of our classrooms, so you can see they're starting to frame the classrooms.

[00:29:02] You can see the metal there that they'll be hanging drywall on and implementing the utilities. You can see some of the wiring hanging, so they are moving very quickly, and you can see how large the classrooms are. That is the connector.

[00:29:18] Now, shifting gears to the, that was the Jane Dean, switching to the connector, I want to share we had our ribbon cutting recently. The improvements represents an important operational and safety enhancement for our Osborne campus. The connector supports a safer movement and transitions and improves day-to-day flow within our campus.

[00:29:39] The updated connector that we have reflects the completed corridor space and the exterior improvements that provide a clean, secure, functional connection to the main building it connects the jlc to the main the main building and while the connector is completed there is still a punch list items that they're working on going through and making some minor edits to things that they have like paint or things that were not quite up to our expectation they're redoing those but it does not affect the use of the connector and the other thing that is not quite completed yet the connector itself is

[00:30:16] completed but not connected to that is we'll be repaving the parking area outside the connector but we can't do that right now because of the weather we were scheduling to do that in spring break when it's warmer weather out there and most important i'm this project completed on time and under budget so just in closing these two projects reflect the school board's ongoing commitment to a safe high quality learning environments and responsible long-term investment in our facilities and so i know you all have had a chance to look but just for the public this

[00:30:51] is what the outside looks like so you'll see that some of the pavement there that is new pavement but the rest of the pavement in that parking lot does not match so we will be doing that at spring break so it's a beautiful new connector that we are very proud of so you can see down the hallway this is looking down the hallway different office spaces again just looking at how seamless it looks and connects the two like it has been there and connects the two parts of the building for forever looking down this is looking down from JLC down to the main building you can see on the right hand side there are some small offices

[00:31:29] and conference room areas that are currently being used another picture of the inside and that is my update for this evening excellent are there any comments or can you hear me are there any yes I'd like to ask our student representatives if they've been down the connector and what their thoughts are on

[00:31:54] it? I go down there many times and it's great. And it's great. I think it enhances Osborne a little bit. Like it adds some brightness, some more modern aesthetic to it. And I've

[00:32:24] heard everything good from students as well. So it's exciting. Yes. Nice to hear. Thank you. And people have already started moving into the offices. It's great. So when a project finishes under budget that money that had been budgeted reverts back to the

[00:33:03] fund balance yes easy question thank you mr. Caffella excellent work excellent report okay at this time board members may offer comments I will start with with Ms. Breden.

[00:33:41] - Seward for her leadership nomination, very well deserved. And then I would also like to congratulate our new chair, Ms. Ball, as well as our new vice chair, Dr. Jones. I think you both are great fits for these positions and I can't wait to see you guys achieve.

[00:33:59] And then additionally, at the latest city council meeting, OHS Band, their cheerleaders, and as well as Mets cheerleaders were recognized for their showcase at the parade, which just leads me to think that people should, like staff, teachers, and parents should encourage students to join these school activities that Manasseh City Public Schools has to offer because we offer great programs and it shows in their recognition throughout the community.

[00:34:27] So I think that we need to keep encouraging students to keep joining these activities 'cause students can find their passions, they can gain confidence through these, as well as find a community within. - Thank you, Sal.

[00:34:47] - Good evening, everyone. Thank you everyone had a congratulations all of our nominees for the teacher of the year award as well as the osborne journalism students we all appreciate them hard work that also the only thing i have to happy

[00:35:15] american month you know spread the word to everybody it's good to thanks and i was just going to remind you that your mic is not on miss seberg i don't think it's can you hear me okay um thank you madam chair um i wanted to briefly acknowledge the recognition that i received from

[00:35:51] PSLN and the Regional Elected Leaders Institute. Thank you for the privilege of serving alongside each one of you. I'm grateful to my colleagues, mentors, staff, and community partners who model service every day. And I believe we're going to be discussing the Board's participation in the Regional Elected Leaders Institute and the Public School Leaders Network on Thursday. So I look forward to that. I also wanted to comment that it is Belling Bee season in Manassas City Public schools starting in third grade through middle school a contest is held to spell words in each

[00:36:30] classroom each grade each school and throughout monassa city public schools the spelling bee is a competitive sport it could be a fun way to expose your student maybe a younger student to the bee the spelling bee for vocabulary and academic competition if you'd like to come and cheer on the spellers and find out what that winning word will be you can attend the monasas city public school spelling bee on january 29th at 7 pm it's going to be at the osborne auditorium anyone interested is welcome to attend and the winner will go on to represent monasas city at

[00:37:08] the regional level and perhaps beyond good luck to all the contestants and we look forward to honoring the top winners at a future school board meeting later this month the capital the vsba capitol conference will bring participating school board members together to learn about legislation under consideration in richmond and to strengthen our shared advocacy for our students educators school community and city for the past nine years i have made attending this conference and advocating directly with our legislators a priority this year however i will not be attending i believe there

[00:37:45] are meaningful moments in public service when stepping back create space for others to step forward gain valuable experience and grow into this role state level advocacy is a core responsibility of this board and i hope my fellow school board members will take their turn in making this opportunity a priority and continue the important work of representing our community and engaging thoughtfully with our legislators we are now in 2026 in the third quarter of the school year so here's to fresh starts and wishing all a happy new year thanks to mrs spall on your first and very efficient meeting as chair looks like we may get done early

[00:38:25] enough tonight to perhaps go to the girls basketball game Osborne go Eagles thank you very much for now I'm working thank you very much for those kind comments miss Brown yeah thank you thank you board member Seaberg for your service and that awards well-deserved so I'm glad we got some really good flowers too I won't keep my comments too long but I just wanted to reiterate something that has been making the rounds I do serve as part of the

[00:38:59] committees on the foundation and so I wanted to just reiterate that in December the MCPS foundation awarded ten thousand seven hundred and thirty two dollars and twenty five cents to five teachers who submitted their educator grant applications so I just wanted to shout them out one more time for their innovation to Amy Saylor, Sarah Corradetti, Katie, but Walter Amanda Klein and Ruth Westberg and Osborne High School and Leonard Newman thank you so much for all of your submissions it was really hard because I was there behind the

[00:39:38] scenes so it's not easy to pick the winners but I just want to make sure sure that everyone understands the hard work that goes behind the scenes from the education foundation and the leaders behind it work very hard to ensure that we continue to receive donations and that we continue to advocate for other members in the community to join us. And of course, I'm going to put my plug in there for donations. Every penny that we get goes back to the students and on that note,

[00:40:17] I also want you to save the date for March 14th. We're going to have the second annual pancake supper. Last year, it was very successful and we were able to fundraise some money. So save the date, March 14th.

[00:40:33] And congratulations to Chair and Vice Chair elected. - Thank you, excellent comments. Ms. Stevens. - Thank you, Chair. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with several MCPS educators during a listening session.

[00:40:51] We discussed a variety of important topics and I truly appreciate their openness and willingness to share their perspectives. It was a productive and positive conversation that underscored their deep commitment to our students, families, and the entire division.

[00:41:06] Last Monday, the board held our annual organizational meeting. I'm pleased to share that I will continue serving as the chair of the policy committee and as a member of the board development committee. additionally i'm honored once again to serve as liaison for SEAC the special education advisory committee and i'm especially excited about a new role for me working with both miss miles and miss garza for our student representatives to the school board i look forward to collaborating with them and supporting the voices in our work so thank you thank you very much miss miles i also

[00:41:42] am excited about doing that with you as well miss stevens um i want to first off just say i hope everyone enjoyed their winter break i really enjoyed mine two weeks off as a teacher it was nice to relax with family i have a lot of thank yous i'm i want to first off say a warm thank you to all our principals this week as we celebrate virginia school principals appreciation week i know great schools start with great principals so keep doing what you're doing to guide our staff and students and know your dedication and leadership is appreciated i also want to congratulate Suzanne for her regional elected leadership award she received I was able

[00:42:22] to attend and it was a great honor to see and and also hear her speak I also want to congratulate our high school for their second place ranking for the yearbook morning show and news website and fun fact I was actually a senior editor for my college's yearbook for two years so seeing that award was really cool to see that that our school is doing that and congratulations to all Washington Post Teacher of the Year nominees. Thank you for your dedication to our student success. I think it's awesome that we allowed the community to share who they thought should be nominated. That was really cool to see that.

[00:42:57] And I also want to have you put on your calendar coming up on Monday the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Competition and Program. I went last year it's going to be held, again I think this is the same church that it was held at last year, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Triangle, Virginia. The doors open at 10 a.m. and I recommend getting there early so you can get parking. And they have a snow date for Saturday, January 24th.

[00:43:26] When I was able to go last year, it was wonderful just to hear the speeches that the students spoke. They were just so thought-provoking and I'm sure they have a lot prepared for this year. There's six regional competition winners from Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas park so mark your calendars for that and i want to wish everyone just a wonderful prosperous new year that's all for me thank you that's it um miss brescia thank you um this thing on yes okay um so

[00:44:04] also happy 2026 i want to offer my own congratulations to the osborne journalism students our washington teacher of the year nominees we have some stiff competition so it'll be interesting to see how it shakes out it's a kind of a shame there can only be one but it's an honor to be nominated we have a really strong crop of nominees that was great to see i also want to pass on my congratulations to miss seaberg for uh your i'm going to get it wrong the regional elected yeah award that you received uh nine years of service you put it that way that's a long time

[00:44:39] and so i thank you for your leadership here on the board and i'm going to address the 2026 general assembly but i do plan on going and it would be nice it will be a good experience your um so i'll just remind everybody now your general assembly convenes tomorrow there is a vsba conference to go and all of us advocate together but you can be in touch with your legislators at any time it is their job to listen to you so don't be shy if there's something coming through that you feel passionate about. I had the honor attending yesterday with Chair Spall,

[00:45:17] I've got to get used to saying that, the parade recognitions yesterday for City Council. We did, everybody did such a great job. That was great to see. And I also want to shout out our principals for Principal Week. They do so much and I am grateful. So as we look into 2026, you know, like every year, I'm sure we're going to face our headwinds, but if we stay focused on our student outcomes, I know we can have our best year yet. So look forward to working with everyone this year. Dr. Jones, Vice Chair. Jones. Well, Happy New Year. So welcome to new beginnings, new adventures,

[00:45:55] new friendships, new challenges, and new successes. Start the year with the mindset that you are in control and all things are possible with support from family and community. The school board held this organizational meeting on January 5th. Ms. Jill Spall was elected chair and I was elected vice chair i'm confident that we will work together for the good manassas city school board later this month we will both participate in chair and vice chair training to enhance our knowledge and develop skills that will further benefit the school board and manassas city community congratulations to our journalists at osmond high school i also wanted to congratulate our teachers they're in

[00:46:34] the trenches daily so it's wonderful seeing them being recognized for their service and nominated for the Washington Post Teacher of the Year. And congratulations to Mrs. Seberg on receiving the 2025 Regional Elective Leadership Award. Mrs. Seberg is a dedicated school board member.

[00:46:51] Her organization, worth, ethics, and committed spirit are just a few of the qualities that make her an outstanding chair and leader. I was excited to attend the OHS Connector, Osmond Connector ribbon cutting on January 8th. Students will no longer have to walk outside between Osmond and the Johnson Learning Center.

[00:47:09] I remember those rainy and cold days well when you had to walk outside. So student safety and comfort have been addressed. Also attended the boys basketball game last Friday where our team had an impressive win against Unity Reed. So please remember to support all of our winter sports this season.

[00:47:29] Also this week, we're celebrating our principals and our assistant principals. Governor Youngkin has declared January 14th through the 20th as Virginia School Principal Appreciation Week. Principals are essential to shaping our school culture, driving academic success, and managing the day-to-day operations of a school.

[00:47:49] I want to thank all principals and our assistant principals in Manassas City for your hard work and dedication. It does not go unnoticed. And then I think Mrs. Miles had looked at my notes because I have. On January 19th, we will honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[00:48:06] The Prince William County Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated is sponsoring its annual MLK oratorical contest and program at 11 o'clock a.m. at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 18410 Chapel Road, Triangle, Virginia.

[00:48:23] Students from Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park are invited to participate in the MLK choir, and they have participated in the oratorical competition and the writing competition. come see our talented youth in action and the 2026 theme is awakening the dream breaking barriers in the fight for justice and unity and I will close with a quote from Dr. King everyone can be great because anyone can serve you don't have to have a college degree to serve you don't have to

[00:48:57] make your subject and verbs agree to serve you only need a heart very nice thank you very much Vice chair my comments I'll try to be brief I do want to thank everyone on this board for their thoughtful comments and say congratulations to all of our award winners I just want to say briefly that I am deeply humbled by your decision to elevate me to board chair and I promise to approach our shared journey as an authentic metamorphosis one rooted in trust reflection and

[00:49:31] purpose together together we will sit we will learn to sit with the discomfort that comes with growth and knowing that when we stand beside one another and support one another and move forward together we will all emerge stronger thank you everyone chair I'm sorry yes ma'am chair I make a motion of the school board meeting adjourn second excellent okay all those in favor anyone

[00:50:06] opposed we have a 7-0 motion and acceptance to adjourn thank you guys 650

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