New Jenny Dean Elementary on track for August opening, board hears

The Manassas City School Board received an update that the new Jenny Dean Elementary School remains on schedule and on budget for an opening in August 2026.

Mr. Geller, the district construction lead, told the board the project averaged about 125 workers on site in May and at peak times reached roughly 200 as crews accelerated finishing work. "Despite significant weather impacts… the project remains on schedule, on budget, and continues to progress towards opening in August for the 2026–27 school year," he said.

Geller outlined exterior work under way, including landscaping, parking-lot base asphalt installation, playground construction and installation of exterior lighting and a monument sign with a forthcoming digital display. He said the city completed water-line inspections required for release of the permanent water meter.

Inside the building, Geller said permanent power is operational, the administrative office and kindergarten wing are substantially complete and punch-list work has begun. He described nearing completion of classroom ceilings, gym wall systems, and painting in the cafeteria, and noted specialized finishes such as terrazzo flooring with embedded learning elements in the kindergarten wing.

Board members asked about historical plaques and other commemorative elements tied to Jenny Dean; Geller said those items are on site as samples and will be among the last installations, with plans to have them in place by the ribbon-cutting. "They are not installed, but we have seen them… they will be one of the last things that go up," he said.

On logistics, Geller described a staged moving plan: furniture placements will begin at the end of June, admin spaces are expected to move close to July 1, and subsequent classroom moves and unpacking will occur in July. The district has contracted multiple vendors for furniture and budgeted compensation for teachers to assist with unpacking. Geller said guided tours are planned at the ribbon-cutting event in August rather than earlier walkthroughs to avoid disrupting furniture installation and construction activities.

When asked directly about schedule or budget slippage, Geller replied, "It is not" delayed and "It is not" over budget at this time.

Next steps include continuing weekly punch-list reviews and completing playground and site work through the summer ahead of the projected August opening.