Loudoun County parents group makes recommendations for school board amid grand jury report
Loudoun County parents group makes recommendations for school board amid grand jury report
Parents in Loudoun County are making their own recommendations for the school board amid a grand jury report and indictment following two sexual assaults at county schools. FOX 5's Tisha Lewis has the latest details.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - Parents in Loudoun County are making their own recommendations for the school board amid a grand jury report and indictment following two sexual assaults at county schools.
A grassroots group called Fight for Schools is spearheading the movement. They are demanding board members waive their attorney-client privileges and release all reports.
They’re also requesting the termination of employment for Division Counsel Robert Falconi reportedly due to his "behavior in obstructing the special grand jury and his advice to this board since August of last year."
Fight for Schools says Falconi has not served the school district or the taxpayers well.
The group is also recommending the board recover funds it paid to conduct its own investigation for the Blankingship & Keith report.
Ian Prior, Executive Director of Fight for Schools, says the group is also recommending the board delay the hiring of a permanent superintendent until a new school board is seated in January 2024. Prior says the group’s recommendations are focused on doing what is in the best interest of the community.
"[It's] business as usual for this school board where they're debating individual lines in policies, but they're not actually talking about what the problems were," says Prior. "The problems are based on a culture. A culture of fear that exists in LCPS, of unaccountability that was highlighted in the grand jury report."
READ MORE: Loudoun County school officials indicted amid student sexual assault investigation
The group is also calling for school board members that are running for higher office to step down.
Prior is also urging Direct Interim Superintendent Dan Smith to terminate for cause all individuals identified in the report who acted with reckless indifference to the safety of children, terminate both Scott Ziegler and Wayde Byard for cause and waive all outstanding FOIA bills due from Loudoun County residents.