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Manassas approves $10.75 million school property purchase, $2 million alt‑ed pilot and Pennington SUP
Summary
The Manassas City Council approved a $10.75 million appropriation for Manassas City Public Schools to buy 8700 Centerville Road, funded from school fund balance; it also approved a $2 million pilot for an alternative education program and adopted a Special Use Permit for Pennington Traditional School expansion capped at 672 students.
Manassas City Council voted to buy a 50,000‑square‑foot property at 8700 Centerville Road for $10,750,000 and approved a $2,000,000 pilot alternative education program, both funded from the school fund balance.
Council members debated repairs, ongoing operating costs and lost commercial tax revenue while several members stressed the purchase would stop recurring lease costs and provide permanent space for school administrative and program needs. Vice Mayor Wolf described the purchase as the "least bad solution" after other options proved more expensive; Councilman Ocina said ownership could reduce future leasing and duplicated costs. Council approved the appropriation on a roll call vote (Vice Mayor Wolf: yes; Council members Vasquez Luna, Ocina, Smith, Hudson: yes; Council member Ellis: no). The council also authorized $2,000,000 for a pilot alternative education program intended to serve about 50 students; that motion passed unanimously.
The Pennington Traditional School special‑use permit (Resolution R2026‑12) was approved in the same meeting. The SUP imposes a student cap of 672 and requires on‑site student drop‑off and additional parking/stacking so pickups and buses will not operate on Stonewall Road during school hours. Staff noted the SUP includes a condition allowing the schools and the city to negotiate an MOU to open athletic fields to the public outside school hours.
School and city staff outlined building condition assessments and a 10‑year capital improvement plan for the Centerville Road property; councilors asked for and received estimates of near‑term repair needs and a note that several tenants currently lease portions of the building. Staff said expected rental income from remaining tenants would be roughly $340,000–$350,000 annually (estimate provided in meeting discussion). Council members asked the school board to report program metrics for the alternative education pilot if it continues after the initial period.
The council also passed housekeeping related to the Pennington SUP and directed staff to pursue the MOU for field access. The measures aim to consolidate school operations, reduce recurring lease outlays and create dedicated space for programs the school board said are needed to support students who do not thrive in traditional classrooms.
