Manassas schools to close for Inauguration Day

Manassas schools will close for Inauguration Day after all, but the decision didn’t come easily.

Until this week, the city was the only local jurisdiction—and one of the only school systems in the greater Washington area—that planned to have students in class on Jan. 20.

The Manassas School Board on Tuesday changed that plan.

But the reversal came only after a long discussion about the educational import of the day and the difficulty of holding classes when many teachers may want to be off.

The board voted three times. First, board members deadlocked 3-3 on a vote to close.

Then, a vote to stay open but have special instruction based on the historic event failed, 2-4.

Finally, board members voted 4-2 to close when President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738