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For the past several weeks, I’ve been speaking with parents, teachers and community members in Albemarle County Public Schools. A lot has happened in the district, from arrests to resignations to student walkouts. It might be challenging to keep track of it all, so let’s get caught up.
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, over 100 students at Monticello High School walked out in support of their principal, Beth Costa, according to reports from Cville Right Now and others. The protest came after Interim Superintendent Chandra Hayes announced that Costa, along with principals John Wheeler of Baker-Butler Elementary School and Christie Isaiah of Woodbrook Elementary School, is going to be “out of the building for an extended period of time,” according to messages sent to families.
Parents are confused, to say the least. They’ve reached out to me and asked not only what “out of the building” means, but how long the principals will be out. I’ve reached out to the school district and haven’t received a response, but I’ll keep asking this and other questions.
One parent told me that they feel Hayes failed to do what she promised, which was working on keeping families informed. The message sent to families lacked basic information such as why these principals were on leave and how long the leave will last. Other parents are taking to social media to ask for explanations.
“I’m gonna need some transparency real quick ACPS,” one parent posted online, referring to the announcement of the principals being “out of the building.”
In July, Hayes made her debut as Interim Superintendent by apologizing to parents at Hollymead Elementary, saying the district “dropped the ball” and would try to do better. That was after two ACPS staff members were arrested on charges of sexual crimes involving children. Hayes stepped into the role following the resignation of former Superintendent Matthew Haas.
Also on Sept. 30, School Board member Jim Dillenbeck hosted a town hall in the Rio district. Dillenbeck met with parents and community members — who he directly represents — and said that at least 15 people in ACPS have been placed on leave in the last 30 days, according to reporting from Cville Right Now. Dillenbeck spoke about the importance of communicating transparently with stakeholders, and how that would lead to rebuilding trust with the community.
Trust, and rebuilding it, was also a theme for most of the candidates who applied for an open seat on the School Board.
In August, Allison Spillman, the at-large representative on the School Board, resigned after three years. Spillman shed tears during the announcement, and said that her family deserved her to be present. She later told the C-VILLE Weekly that she was harassed and received death threats after making a social media post against a scheduled appearance by conservative activist Victoria Cobb, who was scheduled to speak about her anti-transgender views during school hours at Western Albemarle High School.
From August: Albemarle County School Board member resigns; Board votes for an independent investigation into the school district
Some 15 people submitted their applications for the Board — with two retracting their applications, according to Board Chair Rebecca Berlin — leaving 13 candidates to choose from to fill the vacancy. The School Board then held a special meeting where all candidates had 12 minutes to say why they were the best choice to replace Spillman. While the candidates covered a lot of ground, it was a quote on trust that struck me the most.
“Someone once said: Trust is not some line item on a budget,” Joelen Prisaric, a candidate, said. “But the cost of not having it is immense.”
Prisaric was ultimately not chosen; David Storm was. Storm — who said he will not run for the seat in 2027 — will serve the rest of Spillman’s term. During his 12 minutes at the podium, Storm said he’s invested in the success of students, and that he is not a stranger to adversity. Storm said he served as an athletic director in Washington D.C. during the September 11, 2001 attacks, and again during the October 2002 ‘Beltway sniper’ attacks, when John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo killed 10 people and injured others in a series of random shootings in the D.C. area, according to reporting from Maryland Matters and others.
I’m eager to see what Storm brings to the Board as they search for a new permanent Superintendent.
See you all at the next school board meeting, until then, take care of each other and take care of our children.
La Shawn Pagán, Education Reporter
Attend the Oct. 8 Albemarle County School Board meeting
The Albemarle County School Board will hold its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Albemarle County office building at 401 McIntire Rd. in the Lambs Lane auditorium on the second floor.
The agenda will be posted here, and you can view more information about how to view a live stream of the meeting here. Online sign-ups for public comments have closed, but anyone who wants to speak can sign up in person beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
