After becoming the subject of some unwelcome attention regarding sex assaults in 2021, including a promise by the new, conservative governor of Virginia to launch an investigation, Virginia’s Loudoun County School Board appears to be scrambling to hide some things.
The district has filed a complaint seeking a temporary injunction to “limit the scope” of the investigation Gov. Glenn Youngkin promised, and which is being pursued new Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
A May 20 statement from Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) said that while the district remains willing to cooperate with the state attorney general, ” … we believe that the scope of the Attorney General’s investigation is overly broad and holds significant potential to invade the privacy of our students, staff, and families. LCPS also believes the investigation violates our locally elected School Board’s constitutional authority to govern. For these reasons, LCPS has filed a complaint for a temporary injunction to limit the scope of the Attorney General’s investigation.”
Miyares has hired a team of prosecutors and is investigating LCPS’s handling of two sexual assaults in two schools last year.
LCPS has reportedly hired criminal and civil attorney Steven Webster in response to the probe, to represent school board members. Some Loudoun County parents received letters from the district telling parents that educational records are being subpoenaed, including records of some students. This has caused the school system and local leaders to accuse Miyares of trying to secure the records of queer students.
7News reported that several students’ records were subpoenaed for the grand jury investigation, including students who didn’t identify as LGBTQ+.
Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita released the following statement in response:
“Loudoun County Public Schools stated publicly they would cooperate with the special grand jury. Asking for an injunction is just the latest in a series of efforts to prevent the citizens of Loudoun from learning the truth about conditions existing in Loudoun County public schools that promote criminal activity, proving this investigation is warranted and necessary. This injunction is a waste of taxpayer money and the investigation will continue.”
