Sara Brescia claims Board members authorized an investigation outside public view; hearing moved to September 24
2-Minute Brief
What happened: School Board member Sara Brescia filed a court petition claiming that Board members communicated outside public view and authorized an investigation into comments she reportedly made privately.
What she is asking: Brescia wants the court to cancel the School Board’s decision and order the School Board to follow Virginia’s public-meeting requirements.
Current status: A hearing scheduled for August 18 was postponed until September 24. The court has not decided whether the School Board violated the law.
School Board response: Manassas City Public Schools said it was reviewing the matter. The Manassas Journal contacted every Board member, but no responses were received before publication.
Why does it matter?
Virginia law generally requires public bodies to conduct public business during meetings that are announced and open to the public.
Certain matters may be discussed in a closed meeting, but the public body must follow specific procedures. Any official decision generally must be approved during an open meeting.
The court case could determine whether the School Board followed those requirements.
What happened?
During the August 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 claims Board members communicated outside public view and authorized Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman to investigate comments she reportedly made privately.
She filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, which asks a judge to order a public body or official to follow the law. She is also asking the court to cancel the School Board’s decision.
These are Brescia’s claims. The court has not decided whether the School Board violated Virginia law.
Why was the hearing continued?
The public court record confirms that the hearing was moved to September 24 but does not provide a reason.
Brescia said the School Board requested additional time for settlement discussions and that she agreed to the postponement.
No ruling was made in the case.
What has the School Board said?
On August 12, Manassas City Public Schools said it was aware of Brescia’s comments and was reviewing the matter.
The Manassas Journal contacted the Board chair and every School Board member individually to request a statement. No responses were received before publication.
Brescia provided the Journal with her court filing and supporting documents.
What’s next?
The next hearing is scheduled for September 24 in Prince William General District Court.
The parties could reach an agreement before then. If they do not, the court may be asked to decide whether the Board’s communications and decision followed Virginia law.
Where residents can learn more
Court information is available through the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System.
School Board agendas and meeting records are available through MCPS BoardDocs.
Virginia’s public-meeting requirements are available in Virginia Code § 2.2-3712.
Journal Note
The Manassas Journal did not publish a story immediately following Brescia’s August 11 announcement. We reviewed the records she provided, contacted every Board member for a response, and waited for the scheduled August 18 hearing.
Because the hearing was postponed until September 24, we are reporting the court filing and its current status. No court has ruled that the School Board or any individual Board member violated the law. We will update this report as additional court records and responses become available.
