Following multiple arrests related to allegations of child sexual abuse and scrutiny from the Virginia Department of Education, the Albemarle County School Board will host two town hall meetings next week.
Parents and other community members will be able to submit their questions online to their elected representatives to the School Board. Volunteers for Family Council, a volunteer-led organization that aims to facilitate communication between families and ACPS, will serve as moderators.
The meetings follow the recent arrests of two current administrators at ACPS, and a former principal for failure to report child abuse; a newly filed lawsuit against the school division alleging the division failed to report the sexual assault of a student; and the Virginia Department of Education demanding that the school division hire a new firm to conduct an independent investigation into its processes and policies.
Take action
Speak with Albemarle County Public School Board members at upcoming town halls
Albemarle County School Board Chair Rebecca Berlin, who represents the White Hall District, accompanied by Board Member Bob Beard, who represents the Samuel Miller District, will host two town hall meetings in early November:
- Nov. 9 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m at Crozet Elementary, 1407 Crozet Ave., Crozet. Questions for this event can be submitted by using this form.
- Nov. 11 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m at Monticello High School, 1400 Independence Way, Charlottesville. Questions for this event can be submitted by using this form. Those who need special services, such as an interpreter, can use the same form and submit their requests by Nov. 4.
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.
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