Outraged Parents Demand Loudoun County School-Board Members ‘Resign Now’ after Superintendent Indicted
During a school-board meeting in Loudon County, Va., Tuesday night, outraged parents demanded that members of the board resign for failing to hold Superintendent Scott Ziegler accountable for mishandling sexual-assault cases involving high-school students.
Last week, the school board fired Ziegler in a closed-door meeting after a special grand jury released a report blaming the district for failing to intervene after a male student sexually assaulted a female student in a girls bathroom, allowing the perpetrator to assault another victim at a second school in the district.
The document declared that Loudoun County Public Schools “failed at every juncture” in its treatment of the offenses perpetrated by the same male student, who identifies as “gender-fluid.”
The male student was found guilty by a juvenile judge of anally raping a female student in the girls’ bathroom at Stone Bridge High School while wearing a skirt. He was then transferred to Broad Run High School, where he allegedly forced a second victim into a classroom, nearly suffocated her, and sexually assaulted her, according to the report.
Community members expressed their outrage at the board for failing to intervene during the meeting Tuesday night, with some demanding their immediate resignation.
“Every single one of you that stood and protected Ziegler, you guys all need to resign now,” one concerned citizen said, according to video captured by the Washington Examiner.
“Two young girls were sexually assaulted. The second assault could have been prevented,” another parent said, citing the conclusion of the special grand jury, which was empaneled by state attorney general Jason Miyares.
The special grand jury also indicted Ziegler for three misdemeanor charges, including false publication, prohibited conduct, and penalizing an employee for a court appearance. After Ziegler went to court, the school board congregated to start implementing some recommended policy and procedure changes from the report. The suggestions include re-evaluating the student transfer process, engaging the LCPS director of safety and security, enhancing transparency between parents, staff, and the student body, among other recommendations.
Scott Smith, the father of one of the sexual-assault victims, told reporters: “It’s real relieving to know that there might be some hope left in this justice system,” according to NBC Washington.
Smith was arrested in Loudoun County last year after confronting members of the school board about his daughter’s assault. The father was charged with disorderly conduct after resisting arrest. The National School Boards Association subsequently sent a letter to the Justice Department urging prosecutors to pursue cases against parents who took part in school-board protests across the country, likening their activity to “domestic terrorism.” The letter cited the incident involving Smith as evidence of criminality within the parental-rights movement.
