press release

Moving day for Manassas Park Elementary

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: April 26, 2009

With 1,000 volunteers and 30 school buses to move supplies from the old Manassas Park Elementary School to the new one, the community project went off like clockwork.

In fact what was expected to be a four-hour job was done in about half that time on Friday morning.

Students, staff, parents, contractors and organizations showed up at 8 a.m. at the old site and loaded about 3,000 boxes of books, classroom material and office supplies onto the buses.

By 10:30 all of the materials had been taken to the new school and unloaded and carried to their designated spots — the 54 classrooms, library, art room, gym and office.

All new furniture and computers were placed in the new building so they did not have to be transferred.

“I couldn’t be more pleased the way the move came off. We finished way ahead of schedule,” principal Stacey Mamon said.

The students were not in class on Friday and will report to their new school today.

The third-, fourth- and fifth-graders were given a tour of their new school on Thursday and were allowed to put their books and supplies in their new desks.

“One of the students remarked on the new school that it was so impressive, it reminded her of the television show Extreme Home Edition,” said Mamon.

The old Manassas Park school opened in 1953 and eventually had 23 temporary trailer classrooms on site. The school will be torn down and a new Recreation and Park complex built. Some of the trailers were sold and others demolished.

The old facility housed about 480 students in grades 4 to 5, while the new school will open with about 700 as the third grade is coming over from adjacent Cougar Elementary.

Ritchie Carroll, associate superintendent of administrative services, said the day started off with the students and staff treated to a breakfast.
“After that, they were really pumped up and ready to go,” she said.

Carroll said this is the fourth time the school system has used buses for moving from one school facility into another.

“Not only does it save thousands of dollars by not hiring moving companies or rental trucks, but it really brings the community together. It’s great to see students, staff, administrators, parents, civic groups all working together,” said Carroll.

Bruce McDade, associate superintendent for curriculum and technology, said, “I’m overwhelmed with the support given by everyone. I’m really thrilled with the high level of support we have received.”

McDade said each of the boxes was coded to get on the right bus and into the proper classroom at the new school. “In all of our three past moves, we have never lost a package. We now have it down to a fine science,” he said.

Tracy Shaver, principal of Manassas Park High School, was also on hand to help.

“It’s amazing that more than half of the student body of 650 gave up their free day to come out and help; particularly today, since it’s prom night,” said Shaver.

Each of the 30 buses made one run between the two sites, taking about 20 minutes. After they were done loading at the old site, the students were transported to the new site to unload.

Robert Howe, a senior and member of the wrestling team, said he and the rest of the squad all decided to come out and help. “It’s been fun pitching in to load up and unload the buses,” he said.

Another senior and athlete, Leann Breeden, agreed.

“I’m a member of the volleyball, basketball and softball teams, and I wanted to volunteer with my teams and friends. I know they needed help and it’s for a good cause, plus I needed the extra credit,” she said.

To celebrate the completion of the project, the volunteers were treated to a pizza party.

Even Superintendent Tom Debolt rolled up his sleeves and helped in the move.

“I’m very well pleased with the move. We didn’t plan to finish before noon and we beat that by an hour and a half. I’m sure all the students and staff are really going to be thrilled by their new surroundings, come Monday morning,” he said.

VMDO Architects was founded in 1976 and is the youngest firm to receive the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects.

For further information, interview, and photography opportunities in reference to this project and VMDO Architects, please contact William Bishop at 434.296.5684, email at bishop@vmdo.com.