Public Meetings Planned to Discuss New Baldwin Elementary, Magnet School

Community meetings about the creation of a new Baldwin Elementary School and a magnet school are expected to take place in the next few weeks, Manassas City Public Schools staff said this month.

Public input about the building, design, development as well the theme of the magnet school are needed,  division staff said. The first public input meeting is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Baldwin Elementary School. The next meeting is on Nov. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mayfield Intermediate School. 

"Building a new Baldwin was established as a priority during last year's joint Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process with the City of Manassas," said Dr.  Catherine Magouyrk, superintendent of Manassas City Public Schools.  "Having our families and community assist us by providing input regarding what the schools will look like is vital to our success."

The new Baldwin Elementary will educate students from pre-Kindergarten to fourth grade, while the magnet school will educate students in third to sixth grades.  The schools will together accommodate some 1100 students, school division staff said. 

 Staff said the creation of the magnet school is a way to alleviate the growth challenges in the division's elementary and intermediate schools.  

Meeting attendees can expect to meet with school divisions staff and representatives from Moseley Architects, the firm chosen to provide the architectural and engineering services for the design of Baldwin. 

Dr. Bill DeJong, an education and facility planning advisor, will lead the meetings to assist with the community dialogue. His firm will also design the educational specifications for the architectural drawing phase of construction.

How do you feel about the new schools in Manassas? Tell us in the comments.