Prince William County Public Schools is getting a new student management system (SMS) that will deliver what school officials called "dramatic improvements" in support for students, teachers, parents, and a wide range of departments, when it goes live in the 2019-20 school year. The new system will cost taxpayers nearly $10 million – $9,701,364 to be exact, according to Diana G. Gulotta, communications director for the school division.

Prince William County School Board will hold its annual organizational meeting on Wednesday, January 3 at 7 p.m. prior to its regular public meeting. Board members are scheduled to elect a vice chairman who will serve for one year; make appointments for clerk and deputy clerk; and establish the Board’s meeting schedule for 2018. A closed session will be held at 6 p.m.

PWCS Capital Improvements Program (CIP)/Budget Planning Timeline for FY 2019 is now online. GO to the Budget Updates website for information throughout the budget process.

Twenty-nine teachers have been nominated by school staff and parents for PWCS Teacher of the Year and two principals have been nominated for PWCS Principal of the Year. They will be honored at a reception Jan. 30.

Schools across the county will be celebrating in the coming months, as 49 have earned the title, “School of Excellence,” two more than took the honor for the 2015-16 school year.

The School Board of the City of Manassas announced Nov. 27 that it will begin the process of hiring a new superintendent by seeking public input on qualifications. The search follows the announcement of the retirement of current Superintendent, Catherine Magouyrk, effective June 30, 2018.

PWCS has met the challenge of making a school budget readable and understandable, so say examiners for the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International, for the 22nd consecutive year.

PWCS drama students from Reagan and Gainesville Middle Schools and Patriot High School turned in winning performances at the Theatre Festival held in conjunction with the Virginia Theatre Association annual conference Oct. 28-29.