Loudoun school board members left in the dark about student overdoses despite new hires for transparency

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (7News) — 7News obtained emails in a public records request that show some Loudoun County School Board members shocked to learn about several student overdoses at Park View High School from a press release from the sheriff and not from the Loudoun County Public Schools superintendent that they had recently hired to improve communication and transparency.

The day after 7News reported on several Park View High School student overdoses, some Loudoun County School Board members appeared to be frustrated about being kept in the dark by Loudoun County Superintendent Aaron Spence.

READ| LCPS school board members push for answers after 9 drug overdoses at 1 high school since September

On Nov. 1, school board member Tiffany Polifko emailed Spence, “Every school in the county (at least middle and high) should be emailing parents about the dangers of fentanyl and should be transparent about overdoses while withholding PII. This is a problem everywhere and it is horrifying.”

School board member Jeff Morse asked Spence "who made the decision not to provide the board notification of 8(?!!) student ODs, four of which were reportedly on campus... Our Park View student school board rep mentioned this and the school board was completely unaware of the extent. When are we going to learn the hard lessons of transparency?”

In a lengthy response to the school board members, Spence replied in part, “I do think it is important that I state here that I have not intentionally withheld information from the Board—there was not a decision made to withhold this information, but I accept responsibility for your lack of awareness, as I did not decide or direct my team to make you aware specifically.”

Spence added that he shared information with school board members on Oct. 18 about a student overdose the day before. But it’s unclear if Spence did that or not.

This year, the Loudoun County School Board hired Dr. Spence as Loudoun County’s new school superintendent with a starting salary of $375,000 plus benefits and bonuses---becoming one of the most highly paid superintendents in the region.

Spence was the superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and he brought with him Natalie Allen who worked in the communications department in Virginia Beach City Public Schools and is now the Chief Communications Officer of Loudoun County Public Schools.

7News has learned through a public records request that taxpayers are paying Allen an annual salary of $251,000 plus a $15,000 moving allowance from Virginia Beach, a $750 vehicle allowance per month, and a $150 monthly data allowance.

7News asked the Loudoun County School Board in an email, “How do you, as a school board member, justify paying Allen an annual salary of $251,000?” and “Why did the Loudoun County School Board hire a Chief Communications Officer with an annual salary of $251,000 even though LCPS already has a Director of Communications earning $201,235?”

7News has learned through a public records request that Loudoun County taxpayers are spending more than $1.8 million a year on salaries for 14 people in the Loudoun County Public School’s communications office.

It appears taxpayers are paying Allen more money than Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman, Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj and slightly more money than the starting base salary of Arlington County’s School Superintendent.

As Loudoun County taxpayers pay Spence and Allen hundreds of thousands of dollars, we asked the Loudoun County Board: “Considering how several Park View High School student overdoses were not communicated to the school board or the public promptly, will you be holding the LCPS Chief Communications Officer and the superintendent accountable? If so, what does accountability look like?”

7News is waiting for answers to these questions.

7News also asked the school board why the employment memo for the new chief of communications officer does not have performance metrics that she must meet as a condition for her employment with Loudoun County Board Schools. Earlier this year, 7News reported that Superintendent Spence’s employment contract also doesn’t have specific performance requirements.

7News will update this story when we get answers from school board members.