Manassas School Board Seeks to Fill Vacancy

From Manassas City Public Schools:

Manassas, VA –The School Board of the City of Manassas will begin the process of appointing a new member to fill the vacancy left by member Pamela J. Sebesky who was recently elected to serve on the Manassas City Council, a position she will assume beginning January 1, 2017. Sebesky made her formal announcement to vacate her seat during the Board’s November 15 regular meeting.

“Mrs. Sebesky has faithfully served as a member of our Board for the last six years and has worked tirelessly on behalf of the students of Manassas City Public Schools,” said Tim Demeria, Chairman of the Board. “Now, she has the opportunity to serve all the citizens of the City of Manassas and we look forward to continue working with her through her new role as a Council member.”

Sebesky was sworn in as a School Board member in July 2010. During her tenure, she has served on various local and state committees such as the Board’s Academics Committee and the Policy Committee, for which she currently serves as chair. She serves as the School Board representative on the Manassas City Public Schools Education Foundation, the MCPS Safe School Advisory Council, and the MCPS Special Education Advisory Committee, which gave her the opportunity to serve as the City’s representative on the Regional Board, later being selected by her peers to serve as chair, overseeing programs that are shared among four school divisions. Sebesky has also been very involved in the Virginia School Boards Association and introduced its School Board Student Liaison (now School Board Representative) program to MCPS in 2013. Additionally, she served as the Board’s representative with the Washington Area Board of Education (WABE).

Sebesky’s election to the Council now means that there is an opening to serve on the School Board. The Board has 45 days from the date of Sebesky’s departure to fill the vacancy. City of Manassas residents interested in being considered for appointment by the School Board should send letters of interest and a brief resume to the School Board, Attention: Clerk of the Board (mailing address: P.O. Box 520, Manassas, VA 20108) (street address: 8700 Centreville Road, Suite 400, Manassas, VA 20110). The documents must be submitted to the Clerk’s Office no later than 5:00 P.M. on December 9, 2016. Interviews are scheduled to be held January 4 and January 9, 2017. The appointee will serve until November 2017 when a special election is held to fill the remaining year of Sebesky’s original term (December 31, 2018).

Questions regarding the submission of documents for the vacancy should be directed to Alba Garza, Clerk of the Board at 571-377-6008.

The School Board members serve the City of Manassas and exercise the duties and powers as provided in School Board Policy Section BBA: Powers and Duties.

Images via Manassas City Public Schools: Sebesky (Board Photo) and Sebesky with current School Board Student Representatives, OHS seniors Faith Mattick and Iris Alonso