Court docket shows case dismissed with prejudice after parties reached a mutual agreement
2-Minute Brief
WHAT HAPPENED: Manassas City School Board member Sara Brescia filed a court petition in August alleging that Board members communicated outside public view and authorized an investigation into comments she reportedly made privately.
RESOLUTION: Brescia and the Manassas City School Board reached a settlement. The Board agreed to withdraw the challenged investigation and not initiate another investigation into the same matters.
COURT STATUS: The Prince William General District Court docket shows case GV26019633-00 as dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case is closed and cannot be refiled.
BOARD RESPONSE: The School Board said the agreement brings the litigation to a close and declined further comment.
The court dispute between Manassas City School Board member Sara Brescia and the Manassas City School Board has ended through a settlement between the parties.
The fully executed agreement requires the School Board to take the official action necessary to withdraw any Board action authorizing an investigation of Brescia related to the matters in her court petition. The Board also agreed not to initiate another investigation into those same matters.
The agreement also addresses student placement. It states that the School Board may approve student transfers only when recommended by the superintendent. It also states that the Board may reassign students only as part of school consolidation or changes to school attendance boundaries.
Brescia agreed to withdraw the court case with prejudice.
How the Case Began
During the Aug. 11 School Board meeting, Brescia announced that she had filed a petition in Prince William General District Court. The case number is GV26019633-00.
Brescia alleged that Board members communicated outside public view and authorized Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman of Manassas City Public Schools to investigate comments she reportedly made privately.
She filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, asking the court to order the School Board to comply with Virginia public-meeting requirements and to cancel the Board action she challenged.
Settlement Followed Postponed Hearing
An Aug. 18 hearing was postponed until Sept. 24.
The public court record did not state a reason for the postponement. Brescia told the Manassas Journal at the time that the School Board requested additional time for settlement discussions and that she agreed to the delay.
The parties reached an agreement before the scheduled Sept. 24 hearing.
The court docket lists a Sept. 10 contested hearing and records the matter as dismissed with prejudice.
School Board Response
In its Sept. 9 statement, the School Board said the agreement “brings the litigation to a close.”
The Board also said it remains committed to conducting its business in accordance with Virginia law, including the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and to transparency, accountability and responsible governance.
“We are pleased to have reached a resolution that allows everyone to move forward,” School Board Chair Jill Spall said.
Spall said the Board would continue focusing on students, educators, families and the public school system.
The Board said it would not comment further.
Case Closed Without Court Finding
The litigation ended without a court ruling that the Manassas City School Board or any individual Board member violated Virginia public-meeting requirements.
Update: This article has been updated to include the terms of the settlement agreement.
Sources / Further Reading
Prince William General District Court, General District Court Online Case Information System, case GV26019633-00, accessed Sept. 11, 2026.
Settlement Agreement between Sara Jane Brescia and the School Board of the City of Manassas, executed Sept. 9, 2026.
Manassas City School Board, “Manassas City School Board Settles Litigation,” news release, Sept. 9, 2026, provided directly to the Manassas Journal by Almeta Radford, Director of Public Communications and Community Relations for Manassas City Public Schools.
Manassas Journal, prior coverage of the Brescia court filing and postponed hearing.
Code of Virginia § 2.2-3707, Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes.
Code of Virginia § 2.2-3713, Proceedings for enforcement of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
