Manassas City Public Schools outlines timeline and public-engagement plan for new strategic plan

Dr. Jennifer Casada, executive director of accountability and finance for Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS), presented an update to the School Board of the City of Manassas on the process and timeline for a new strategic plan the division expects to launch in July 2027 and that will cover “fiscal years 28 through 32.”

Casada said a steering committee made up of representatives from across schools and central office first met in December 2025 and that the division has collected input from principals, central-office departments, teacher and support-staff focus groups and the board during a recent retreat. "The purpose of tonight's presentation is to provide the board and the public with an update on the process and timeline for the development of the new strategic plan," she said.

Why it matters: The new plan will add a concise set of core values and explicit performance indicators tied to each pillar, changes Casada and board members said are intended to make the plan easier to understand and easier to track over time. Casada said the plan will keep the division's existing architectural metaphor — student academic success supported by pillars — but will add clearer objectives, metrics and an accessible public presence.

Key elements and schedule - Structure: Casada said the plan will include revised vision and mission statements, an identified set of core values, pillar-based goals, strategic priorities and performance metrics. "A universal theme is that the language in the plan needs to be more accessible to the community," she said. - Development process: An initial draft of the plan structure will be built over the summer using steering-committee input; specific strategies and performance indicators will be developed thereafter. The board will review drafts over the fall in work sessions; Casada said a cabinet final draft is expected late fall or early winter. - Public engagement: The division will use surveys (for staff, students, parents and community), existing advisory groups (for example, parent advisory groups and SEAC), targeted in-person opportunities and a required public hearing. "The survey will be available to anyone who wants to complete it," Casada said, and staff will advertise participation channels in the fall. - Website and transparency: Casada described plans for an interactive strategic-plan website that will host the draft, links to surveys, progress dashboards and stories tied to each pillar. She said a website "shell" and posting capability will be available during the development process, with full interactive features after the plan is approved. - Timeline to board action: Casada said the goal is to present the plan to the board in January 2027, hold the public hearing and request school board approval in early February 2027 to align with the budget cycle.

Board members pressed for clarity on outreach and accessibility. Board member Ms. Pasha asked whether focus groups and surveys would reach the broader community; Casada said staff will use existing meeting structures and conduct targeted outreach while advertising surveys broadly. Ms. Miles asked whether work-session time would be used instead of adding meetings; Casada said staff prefer to use existing meeting structures and provide synthesis updates at those touchpoints. On translation, Casada said surveys and targeted in-person events will be offered in other languages and that communications staff will help arrange translators for public hearings.

Board reaction and next steps Board members generally expressed support for adding core values and clear KPIs. Ms. Brown said the consent agenda that night included more than $10 million in contracts and operational expenditures and framed the strategic-plan work as part of ongoing investments in priorities. The division will post drafts and survey links on the planned website, solicit feedback in fall engagement activities, and return to the board with a draft in January 2027 followed by a public hearing and approval request in early February 2027.

The presentation began in the meeting's discussion agenda and concluded after a question-and-answer exchange; board work sessions over the fall will include synthesis of stakeholder feedback and recommended revisions.