CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Virginia Department of Education will be initiating an independent review of Albemarle County Public Schools’ “policies, practice and culture,” according to a letter sent Tuesday to the School Board and Acting Superintendent Dr. Chandra Hayes by Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway, a copy of which was obtained by Cville Right Now.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, the credible reports of harm done to children, and the latest charges that multiple leaders at the school and central office levels failed to fulfill their legal responsibilities to report suspected child abuse, meaningful state action is now necessary under this statutory authority,” Conway’s letter said.
In an email responding to a group of county parents, a copy of which was obtained by Cville Right Now, Conway said she consulted with the Office of the Virginia Attorney General in laying out the VDOE response.
The VDOE has instructed ACPS to “hire a high-quality independent consultant that can conduct a thorough and timely review of ACPS policies, practices, and organizational culture related to mandatory reporting required by law.” ACPS will be choosing from a list of options provided by the VDOE and must make a selection within 10 business days.
Once that inquiry begins, the VDOE will be requiring ACPS officials to meet regularly with it, to give the VDOE the chance to review the firm selected and the scope of the review, and set timelines for both an interim and final report that will be delivered to the VDOE.
The VDOE letter also said it would work to support ACPS in the implementation of any recommendations that come out of the review.
“The VDOE remains committed to working collaboratively with the local school board and division leadership to navigate this crisis to ensure any gaps, deficiencies, and blind spots related to policies, protocols, and organizational culture are identified and addressed transparently so that student safety is prioritized, and trust is rebuilt with staff, families, and community members,” Conway’s letter concludes. “We appreciate your cooperation and dedication to the students and families of Albemarle County during this challenging time.”
The school division has been under intense scrutiny since the June arrest of Hollymead Elementary School staffer Michael Swiney on felony charges of sexually abusing students. Since then, the division’s superintendent, Dr. Matthew Haas, resigned at the request of the School Board. Earlier this month, Albemarle County Public Schools’ Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer Brodie Downs, Assistant School Division Counsel & Title IX Coordinator Erin Stone, and former Hollymead Principal Joe McCauley were charged with three misdemeanor counts each of failing to report a case of child abuse.
Tuesday night, School Board Chair Dr. Rebecca Berlin told a town hall audience at Northside Library that the board and VDOE worked together to craft the plan for the review. Berlin said there were calls with VDOE officials on Oct. 17 and again Tuesday.
“Dr. Hayes and I have been working with the Virginia DOE,” Berlin said. “We have reached out to them … to talk about some of the continuing issues and challenges we’re facing in the district.”
