School Board of the City of Manassas Designated as VSBA Board of Distinction

Photo: The School Board of the City of Manassas: From left, front row: Sanford S. Williams, Scott M. Albrecht (Vice-Chairman), Arthur P. Bushnell, and Tim Demeria (Chairman). Back row: Ellen M. Purdy, Ilka V. Chavez, and Pamela J. Sebesky

Release, Nov. 21, 2014:

On Wednesday, during the opening session of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Annual Convention in Williamsburg, the School Board of the City of Manassas was designated as a VSBA Board of Distinction. Boards receiving this award must meet specific requirements in four key areas - planning, policy, promotion, and board development. A panel of judges determines those awarded the VSBA Board of Distinction status.

There are 134 school divisions in the Commonwealth and the School Board of the City of Manassas was one of only two recognized as Boards of Distinction among their peers at the convention.

“The School Board of the City of Manassas is honored to be identified as a Board of Distinction by VSBA”, said Tim Demeria, Board chairman, “I truly believe that the men and women who serve on our board sincerely want what is best for the students and staff of Manassas City Public Schools. This award will be a visual reminder of the commitment we have made to serve the children of our city.”

Through the Board’s leadership, a 2013-2019 Strategic Plan was developed, which serves as a blueprint and sets the direction for the future of Manassas City Public Schools. The Board is governed by a set of operating protocols that were established during its retreat in August and adopted in September 2013. The protocols further indicate how the Board and its individual members will conduct business on behalf of the school division. The Board also reviewed, revised and reformatted its policies to ensure they are relevant and consistent with the strategic direction of the Division.

In 2013, the Board received the Award for Excellence in Local Government by the Alliance for Innovation in Government for its joint CIP process with the City of Manassas. As a result of the work of the two governing bodies, a new Baldwin Elementary (PreK-4) / Intermediate (5-6) school is scheduled to open in September 2016.

“The time and work we put in, whether at conferences or meetings, is all done for students,” said Demeria. “Our focus is and will always be on what’s best for every student in Manassas City PublicSchools.”