Author: Caitlyn Meisner

I'm the Manassas Local News Editor. Please send me story ideas and news tips.

News

Fredericksburg City Council passes ordinance to impose collection fee on delinquent taxes

By Caitlyn Meisner
Fredericksburg City Hall [Photo: Fredericksburg Va. Government Facebook page]

Brenda Wood, the city treasurer, explained the purpose of the ordinance, stating, “The state provides the authority for a city treasurer to do this. The ordinance is for imposing a collection fee on delinquent taxes to cover administrative costs, attorney, or collection agency fees.” The ordinance sets forth a collection agency fee of up to 20% of the taxes owed and establishes a timeline for addressing delinquent status if appeals are filed in a timely manner.

During the council session, Ward 2 Councilor Gerlach expressed his support, citing his extensive experience defending individuals in debt over the past 40 years. “This is not uncommon for municipalities,” Gerlach remarked.

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Schools

Tensions rise at joint Council, School Board meeting on Jennie Dean

By Caitlyn Meisner
Manassas Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman

The Manassas City School Board and Council held a joint meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, to discuss future plans for the new Jennie Dean Elementary School following the Board’s design approval on Feb. 13, 2024.

Council and board members met to move the process along and hopefully reach an agreement on a Special Use Permit (SUP) the School Board must obtain from the City Council before school construction may begin. Obtaining an SUP will move the decision to approve the designs and construction to the Planning Commission and then the City Council for a vote.

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Originals

Jennie Dean Elementary designs approved

By Caitlyn Meisner

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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Originals

Debate ignites over future of Metz Middle School: Community divided on solutions for academic improvement

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Photo: Manassas City Public Schools]

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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Schools

Metz scores decline: ‘It’s clear…our students need our help urgently’

By Caitlyn Meisner

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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Prince William

‘Count Me In’ scholarship aims to remove barriers to outdoor summer programs

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Photo: Prince William County Parks and Recreation]

According to the scholarship website, the scholarship is an award of $200 allocated for each age-appropriate child in the household. Sarah Smith, recreation senior manager in the Prince William County Parks & Recreation Department, said a range of ages is typically awarded.

“It’s a wide variety,” Smith said. “[Applicants] go from preschool age all the way [up to 18]. I would say our oldest applicant is around 15.”

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Politics

School Board votes to close schools on March 5 for Presidential Primary Election

By Caitlyn Meisner
[Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash]

The Prince William County School Board voted Wednesday to designate March 5, the day of the presidential primary, as a student holiday and staff work day.

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Schools

Stafford supervisors delay vote on trailer classrooms, critical of mid-year budget request

By Caitlyn Meisner

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to delay the vote on trailer – or modular – classrooms until the February 6 meeting following a request from the county School Board.

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Politics

Jefferson ‘hopeful’ Prince William ‘will come together’ after data center fight; Vega named pro-tem in rare bi-partisan showing

By Caitlyn Meisner

DeShundra Jefferson, chair at-large of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors, delivered her first remarks Tuesday, January 9, on the State of the County. She was elected in 2023 and assumed office on January 1.

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Politics

Free lunch, clean energy, transparency in schools are priorities for Prince William delegation

By Caitlyn Meisner

State Senators-Elect and House Delegates-Elect held a pre-session town hall Saturday via Zoom to discuss their legislative priorities for the upcoming 2024 session in Richmond.

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