The Virginia Department of Education has given the Albemarle County School Board 10 days to hire a new firm to conduct an independent investigation into the school division’s practices and policies.
Following the arrest of Michael Swiney, former Social Emotional Learning coach at Hollymead Elementary, who has been charged with multiple felony counts of sexual crimes involving children, and the arrest of Nicholas Clark, a former teacher at Woodbrook Elementary, who was charged for possession of child pornography, the School Board voted unanimously to have an “independent investigation” into the division’s policies and practices.
The vote for an investigation followed the resignations of former Superintendent Matthew Haas and former Hollymead Principal Joseph McCauley.
On August 4, the School Board agreed to hire Richmond-based law office Harman, Claytor, Corrigan and Wellman to do the job. But the firm was also hired by the Board’s insurer to look into the allegations made against Swiney, according to an engagement letter sent to the school division by the firm. The firm also represented the School Board and the district in 2022 during a lawsuit over the district’s anti-racism policy.
This sparked more scrutiny against the school division by parents and community members.
“Albemarle families deserve an investigation whose only loyalty is to the truth,” Phil Riese, an ACPS parent, said in an email.
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chair Ned Galloway released a statement Oct. 28, referring to an Oct. 27 letter sent by the Virginia Department of Education’s Superintendent of Instruction Jenna Conway. The letter establishes a new framework for an independent review of Albemarle County Public Schools.
“ACPS must retain a qualified independent consultant within 10 business days,” Galloway said. “VDOE will review and approve the scope of the independent review, evaluate the consultant’s qualifications and independence, require deadlines for interim and final reports, and remain engaged through implementation of the resulting recommendations. This is a substantial and welcome development.”
Take action
Share your feedback at Nov. 4 Albemarle County School Board town hall
Albemarle County School Board member Kate Acuff will host a town hall on Nov. 4 at Mary Carr Greer Elementary. Parents and community members will be able to join and ask questions.
Board Chair Rebecca Berlin will also be present. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. at 190 Lambs Ln., Charlottesville, and parents from Greer, Journey Middle School and Albemarle High School are welcome to join.
Families and community members can send questions in advance through this form. Those who are unable to attend can still send questions.
On October 15, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution requesting action by the School Board and “assistance from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to address concerns involving Albemarle County Public Schools.”
The resolution came after two current administrators at ACPS, Director of Human Resources Brodie Downs, and Title IX Coordinator Erin Stone, as well as McCauley were arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse.
The adopted resolution also asks that adequate training on policies, protections, and anonymous reporting mechanisms be in place to safeguard mandated reporters or whistleblowers, and that “staff are clearly informed of their legal obligation to report suspected abuse and their right to do so directly to the County Department of Social Services or the statewide hotline without supervisor approval.”
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More about Albemarle County Public Schools
Three more arrests and another School Board resignation hit Albemarle County Public Schools
Police say fear of retaliation from the school division deterred some staffers from speaking up about suspected child abuse.
David Storm named to Albemarle County School Board to replace Allison Spillman
The announcement comes after Spillman’s resignation in August and two rounds of candidate interviews.
Albemarle County School Board member resigns; Board votes for an independent investigation into the school district
Speaking through tears, Vice Chair Allison Spillman announced her resignation, saying her children had been subject to “harassment” due to her role in public office.
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