Orange County cuts ties with Virginia School Boards Association, citing group's alleged left-wing leanings

“I saw recordings where they were making fun of our governor and anyone with a conservative point of view,” said board member Darlene Dawson, who called the organization a “monopoly.” “They are pushing for many things that I oppose on principle and I am not interested in supporting them. If you try to disagree with them, they will shut you up. I've seen this happen.

Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Virginia School Boards Association is comprised of school boards from across the Commonwealth focused on supporting school districts by providing legal, policy and collective bargaining expertise, advocating for members at the state and federal levels and assisting in the search for superintendents. Founded in 1906, the agency also offers seminars allowing school board members to complete the training required by their position.

Orange County's decision last week makes it the second Virginia locality to sever ties with the association. Warren County left in September.

Orange County School Board member Sandy Harrington, who expressed strong disapproval of the board's decision, was also unhappy with the company the county was going to keep.

“I was asked at one time if the Orange County Public Schools system and board wanted to be recognized as a board and system of excellence, like in Fairfax County or Falls Church, or did we want to align with Warren County? Harrington said during the meeting. “I don’t know, apparently it’s possible.”

The charge to leave the school board association was led primarily by board member Chelsea Quintern, who made the motion to put the discussion to a vote. This alone led to discord before real debate could begin, as board members and the public gathered on May 20 were unsure whether Robert's procedural rules even allowed discussion of the motion being as it was not listed as an action item. the meeting agenda. Ultimately, the discussion and vote were allowed to continue, much to Harrington's dismay.

“You can do whatever you want, you have the majority, you tend to do it anyway, but that’s how I feel,” she told Quiternn.

Quintern, who is not required to run under a party banner but still ran for the school board as a self-described Republican, raised concerns about the board association's political leanings education and the types of policies she advocates for in the Virginia Legislature.

Quintern contradicted herself at the May 20 meeting, saying she “had not used VSBA resources once in the last two years” but that while attending a training session proposed by the association, “they did not like my opinion and I was not welcome to share it”. on certain current issues.”

School board members are not required to complete their education requirements solely through the school board association; they can attend similar programs offered by other groups, an alternative that many Orange County Board members admitted they take advantage of.

Not only did Quiternn say she was rebuffed for her comments at a school board association meeting, but she also alleged the nonpartisan organization took the issue to the press.

“I don't want to spend money on an organization that publishes hit op-eds about a single board member, which is actually what happened to me,” Quiternn said. “I feel like this money could be better spent elsewhere in our school system.” »

The editorial she referenced could not be found on the school board association website, but Quiternn appears in a number of local and national news stories regarding a resolution she presented to the board school in April 2022.

In response to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's law requiring all Virginia school districts to notify parents whenever “sexually explicit material” is included in the curriculum, Quintern proposed a similar resolution in Orange. However, it was his own addition to the proposal that caused significant public outcry, requiring “that schools inform parents about health services and their involvement in critical decisions affecting the physical, mental and emotional well-being of students ; including, but not limited to, self-identification.

The resolution was ultimately defeated several months later, although the backlash against Quintern continued for some time. An online petition to remove her from the school board has garnered more than 1,000 signatures, and Orange County High School Class of 2023 valedictorian Solo Mthethwa explicitly called for her resignation, along with two of her colleagues on the board of directors at the time, during his graduation speech.

Dawson and board President Melissa Anderson, who both joined Quiternn in voting against the motion to renew the board's membership, shared Quiternn's frustration with the price tag associated with the school board association at the statewide. According to Anderson's comments during the discussion, the board pays $8,850 in dues each year in addition to $3,000 for political services.

“My biggest concern is that we are paying a lump sum for the school board,” said Anderson, who added that she would rather spend money to hire an attorney to review its policies, a service currently offered for a fee. fees by the Virginia School Boards Association.

Harrington dismissed her colleague's concerns about the price of membership, calling their arguments “pretty disingenuous” given that Anderson “came here the night the budget passed, and you cut three new positions for almost $400,000 without batting an eyelid. »

The Daily Progress reached out to the Virginia School Boards Association for comment, with no response.

Aside from Harrington, Jack Rickett was the only other board member to express a dissenting opinion, emphasizing in his brief remarks that the school board association ensures that school district policies remain consistent with Virginia law. Even if the board could hire lawyers instead, that probably wouldn't do much to reduce associated costs, Rickett said.

Harrington agreed, saying it would be impossible for board members to fulfill the role of the Virginia School Boards Association, including governance training and negotiations with state legislators. Richmond.

“In my opinion, just running a board meeting gives us problems; it’s not pretty sometimes,” she said. “I have a huge problem with you eliminating the opportunity for me, as a board member, to receive proper training.”

After nearly half an hour of tense back and forth, the majority carried the vote and Orange County will no longer be affiliated with the Virginia School Boards Association effective June 30.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for June 3, where voters will have the opportunity to comment on the recent decision.

“You will do what you want, but I think this is a significant step in the wrong direction, and I will continue to advocate for good governance,” Harrington told his fellow board members after the vote. “I think you are making a biased decision and I do not support it.”