Community members urge Manassas board to reinstate Osborne coach Mike Johnson
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Summary
More than a dozen residents told the Manassas City Public Schools board that Coach Mike Johnson has decades of service and asked the board to reconsider his termination; the board did not take a public action on the coach during the meeting.
More than a dozen community members used the public-comment period at the Manassas City Public Schools board meeting to urge the board to reinstate Osborne High School football coach Mike Johnson, praising his decades of service and his work with students.
Speakers described Johnson as a long-serving mentor who helped students stay in school and enroll in college. Tony Lewis, identifying himself as senior pastor of Light of Life Church, said he has known Johnson for 25 years and called for reconsideration of the dismissal: “Mike Johnson is a good man. He’s a husband. He’s a father. He’s a man of God, and he’s someone who loves this city,” Lewis said.
Several former players and parents gave specific examples of Johnson’s influence. Ryan Dodson recited 17 names of seniors who he said enrolled in college after playing under Johnson and described a turnaround in school culture: “As soon as Mike Johnson stepped up, there was a noticeable shift in culture,” Dodson said. Alexis Keith told the board she had printed social-media comments showing broad community support and asked the board to “overturn this decision.” Karen Morris and others recounted students’ academic and postsecondary outcomes they attribute to Johnson’s leadership.
Board members acknowledged the speakers and placed the matter in the context of division policy and personnel procedures. Vice Chair Spall said the division must follow current best practices and regulations for athletics and that “mistakes were made” in how the situation unfolded; she said ensuring programs meet standards is part of protecting students and opportunities. Chair Seaberg and other board members also thanked speakers for sharing their views.
No formal board action to reinstate Coach Johnson was recorded in the public meeting. Later in the agenda the board voted to go into closed session under the Code of Virginia to discuss a personnel matter, a step board members said is the appropriate venue for personnel deliberations.
