Manassas

Manassas Schools Boost Staff Pay 5.5% Average in FY2027 Budget Despite Enrollment Dip

By Uriah Kiser
Manassas City School Board

Manassas City Public Schools is placing competitive employee compensation at the forefront of its adopted FY2027 budget, directing resources toward closing regional pay gaps even as enrollment trends slightly downward.

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Helen Zurita Joins Race for Manassas City Council

By Potomac Local News

Helen Zurita, a longtime Manassas resident and community organizer, announced her candidacy Monday for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council.

Zurita, who works as a community liaison for the nonprofit Creating Foundations for Hope, which supports hunger relief efforts, said her campaign focuses on practical leadership that puts working families and neighborhoods first. She emphasized protecting the city’s character while encouraging responsible growth, strengthening trust between residents and local government, and ensuring every part of the community feels heard.

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Manassas Pathways Alt-Ed Program Thriving at Community Center; First Graduates Imminent

By Uriah Kiser
Manassas Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman

The Manassas Pathways alternative education pilot program, designed to support students who struggle in traditional school settings, is showing strong early results after relocating to the city community center due to fire-rating challenges at the school division’s headquarters at 8700 Centreville Road.

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Manassas City Latest to School Report Enrollment Drop; Numbers Decline Across Northern Virginia

By Uriah Kiser
From Left to Right: Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis Younger, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, both Democrats, visit a classroom on Feb. 25, 2026. [Photo: Manassas City Public Schools Facebook]

Manassas City Public Schools has joined a growing list of Northern Virginia districts reporting modest but persistent enrollment declines, reflecting broader demographic shifts affecting public schools across the commonwealth.

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Broad Run Yard Expansion Moves Forward: New Tracks, Station Rebuild, and Manassas Airport Ties

By Uriah Kiser

The Virginia Railway Express Broad Run Yard expansion project is advancing at the 95 percent design stage and is expected to enter a two-year construction phase once property acquisitions and permits are finalized, officials told the VRE Operations Board on March 20.

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Manassas School Board Launches Review of Old Jennie Dean Building

By Uriah Kiser
Jennie Dean statue at Jennie Dean Memorial Park in Manassas, honoring the founder of the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1893.

The Manassas City School Board is reviewing its options for the nearly 70-year-old Jennie Dean Elementary building and site, while its replacement is under construction.

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Manassas Events Roundup: March 30 – April 11, 2026

By Uriah Kiser

Hey neighbors! Spring is officially in the air in Manassas — from Easter hopping fun to important community conversations and the return of our favorite Saturday market. Plus, summer camp season is kicking off with open houses you won’t want to miss.

Whether your kids love creativity, athletics, or just need a great week of adventure close to home, these camps are designed to keep them active and smiling all summer long. Perfect for families in the greater Potomac region looking for convenient, local options.

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Manassas Schools Hikes Budget to $175.8M, Emphasize Staff Raises and Facility Needs

By Uriah Kiser

Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) has adopted a $175.8 million budget for fiscal year 2027 across all funds, marking a roughly $15 million, or 9.3 percent, increase over the FY2026 adopted budget. School officials presented the spending plan during a joint meeting with Manassas City Council on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, emphasizing a needs-based balanced budget required under Virginia law while noting ongoing uncertainty at the state level.

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Manassas’ New Ballet Brand ‘R-Class’ Masters the Art of Rugged & Dainty Pointe Shoes

By Mike Salmon
Natalya Balatsenko displays shelves of the Russian-made ballet shoes

A very important part of ballet is shoes. For dancers dressed in tights and tutus, getting up on pointe is a move known as “pointe,” and it requires a rugged pair of ballet shoes. Rugged yet dainty is the combination that sets apart outfitter R-Class, a new ballet outfitter in Manassas.

“It’s important to really work on the fit,” said Jennifer Fitzpatrick, who is one of the founders of R-Class with fellow dancer Natalya Balatsenko. Ballet dancers start out at a young age, wearing socks or tights, but haven’t reached the pointe level with fancy shoes. That comes with experience. “When you get on pointe shoes, it’s a real big deal,” she said. 

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Manassas Residents Rally to Save Old Bennett School as Petition Nears 750 Signatures

By Uriah Kiser
Bennett School at the Prince William County courthouse.

A grassroots effort to preserve the historic Old Bennett School is gaining momentum in Manassas, with nearly 750 signatures collected in just two and a half weeks from city residents and local businesses.

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