The Toxic Relationship Between LCSO and LCPS is Putting our Kids and Our Officials at Risk
Loudoun 4 All continues to strive to uncover the real facts for real parents to advocate for real policy change for real improvement for all Loudoun County Residents.
As part of our mission we continue to review and discuss all known facts as they are released regarding the horrific sexual assaults that happened at Stone Bridge and Broad Run High Schools.
In our effort to find out the actual facts behind the misinformation, we have uncovered information that is incredibly concerning about the increasingly toxic and political relationship between the LCSO and LCPS. This relationship has made us all less safe. It is vital that there are smooth and open channels of communication between LCSO and LCPS, especially when it comes to crimes committed in our schools.
What we have discovered is that current policy, and perhaps Virginia law, was not followed in these cases. We demand transparency and an account of all facts and timelines from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).
Under Federal Title IX legislation, school systems are to report crimes to law enforcement. Following that report, any school investigation must be put on hold until the completion of the criminal investigation by law enforcement.
During the interim period while the criminal investigation is taking place, schools can, at the discretion of the school system’s Title IX Coordinator, take interim measures in regards to the accused student. However, the accused student is still entitled to an education during this period and any interim measures must be “mutually agreed upon, by both the complainant and the respondent” (according to current LCPS Title IX coordinator, Mark Smith). School officials also stated expulsion or removing the student from in-school learning during that interim period would violate the federal Title IX statute.
Loudoun County School Board must wait for notification from LCSO informing them when the criminal investigation is complete. Virginia code specifies that local law-enforcement authorities shall report to the principal or his designee and the division superintendent shall receive such report.
“If the school division is not being notified by the sheriff’s office when we’re supposed to be, that’s extremely concerning, because it hampers our ability to conduct a complete Title IX investigation, and to take appropriate actions to keep our student body safe,” School Board Member Ian Serotkin told WTOP.
Superintendent Scott Ziegler stated he has never, during his three years with LCPS, been notified by the county sheriff’s office that a juvenile has been charged with a crime. He was made interim superintendent on January 1, 2021, but served as the district Title IX coordinator before that.
In contrast, Chapman stated his department has consistently provided appropriate notifications. However, regarding the investigation of the May assault, which his department closed in July, Chapman said that “School was out in July, which may have accounted for less in-person contact. Also, a notification was made to a school official,” at Stone Bridge High School, suggesting that notification was made to an unspecified official at the high school rather than in writing to Superintendent Zeigler.
Sadly, both LCSO and LCPS are playing the blame game, and there appear to be major issues both with the official policy as it is written and with improper policy implementation procedures. Superintendent Zeigler indicated that he was not notified by LCSO of the criminal charges when the investigation was completed in July. However ,Sheriff Chapman stated that he provided “appropriate notifications”. Whether LCSO did notify Dr. Zeigler, as required by law, is still not clear, and we demand a clear answer.
Another point of concern is a letter that recently came to light from LCPS Chief of Operations Kevin Lewis to Superintendent Zeigler. In this letter, we learn that LCPS was informed by Sheriff Chapman that they would no longer provide uniformed officers at upcoming School Board meetings. Full text of the letter can be found here: https://www.scribd.com/document/535539647/Loudoun-letter
In the letter, we learn that Sheriff Chapman offered this summary of the LCSO plan for August 10 and 11.
No uniformed officers inside the building
No administrative building campus law enforcement presence
LCSO officers will be “in the area” for quick response if something happens and they are called to respond.
When asked for the rationale behind this change, Sheriff Chapman cited the following reasons in his reply to Kevin Lewis:
School board unilaterally decided to limit public comment
School Board unilaterally decided to hire security firm with metal detector
School Board unilaterally devised a security plan for Aug 10 SB
School Board made all of these decisions without consultation with LCSO
6 of 9 SB members brought this to bear by creating anti racist groups on social media
LCSO has been made to appear as the muscle for school board and work at the school board’s direction
After June 22 - LCSO and Sheriff Chapman received national criticism for being “bad guy”at the meeting being blamed for what took place. He stated that some of the comments included death threats. He continued to say that he (Chapman) received all of the criticism and that the Superintendent and School Board took none of the push back from the community or national arena.
I believe those people should have been allowed to speak (reference to the June 22, 2021 School Board meeting
Optics are that LCSO deprived citizens of their right to speak in public
We did an investigation on the facebook and the anti-racist School Board member social media group
School board is firing people up and calling LCSO to clean it up
The plan for Aug 10/11 puts LCSO in same position and I won’t be put in that position again
School board is being dismissive of people they don’t agree with
Very concerned about Beth Barts bringing people in from out of state
These reasons show extreme political bias and in many cases are based on misinformation. Furthermore, Kevin Lewis, COO of LCPS has challenged the statements Chapman made claiming the School Board planned security efforts without consulting LCSO. Clark states that there was coordination with LCSO staff in ongoing planning meetings and calls.
These new facts highlight concerns as to the communication and coordination between LCSO and LCPS. Putting a spotlight on the incredibly political and polarizing way that information is being shared and handled. It is essential that we keep digging and get at the facts.
We must all agree to put the safety of our students above any political agenda.