Report released in Loudoun Co. schools sexual assaults -- here's what was uncovered
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (7News) — The report on Loudoun County Public Schools' (LCPS) handling of two sexual assaults in two schools last year was released on Monday.
A Loudoun County judge on Monday ordered the release of the report conducted by Loudoun County citizens randomly selected to serve as jurors. The information is based on a review of testimony from more than 40 witnesses and 100 pieces of evidence submitted on record.
WATCH: Kevin Lewis breaks down some of what's in the report:
"This special grand jury was the epitome of professionalism," said Attorney General Jason Miyares. "In the face of intense public speculation, the members were incredibly engaged, worked tirelessly, and spent countless days away from their families and jobs to conduct a thorough investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools. I encourage everyone to read their report, and look forward to the positive change in LCPS resulting from their work."
RELATED | Loudoun County teen asks Virginia AG to review her sexual assault case
According to the report, the special grand jury believes top LCPS administrators were looking out for their own interests instead of the best interest of the school system. They note that there was evidence that further shows a lack of transparency and accountability throughout the investigation. "LCPS bears the brunt of the blame," the report states.
"We believe that throughout this ordeal LCPS administrators were looking out for their own interests instead of the best interests of LCPS. This invariably led to a stunning lack of openness, transparency, and accountability both to the public and the special grand jury. There were several decision points for senior LCPS administrators, up to and including the superintendent, to be transparent and step in and alter the sequence of events leading up to the October 6, 2021 BRHS sexual assault. They failed at every juncture."
You can read the report here or below:
The special grand jury was empaneled on April 7, 2022, by the Loudoun County Circuit Court upon motion of the attorney general, according to a press release from Miyares.
The Loudoun County School Board previously filed to stop the work of the special grand jury convened in Miyares’s investigation that started after Governor Glenn Youngkin directed him to look into alleged cover-ups and the handling of two sexual assaults that happened in two schools last year.
In September, the Supreme Court of Virginia rejected the Loudoun County School Board’s attempt to end Miyares' special grand jury investigation into the school district.
RELATED | Virginia high court denies LCPS petition to block grand jury sex assault investigation
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a sexual assault occurred in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School on May 28, 2021.
Then on Oct. 6, a sheriff’s department tweet detailed another alleged assault by the same student at Broad Run High School. According to the report, "The sexual assault at Broad Run High School could have been prevented" and LCPS is to blame for the incident and the transfer of the student from Stone Bridge High School and Broad Run High School.
A 15-year-old boy was convicted of two sex assaults and was sentenced to complete a "residential program in a locked-down facility."
Here is a list of the special grand jury's eight recommendations:
- To increase transparency and foster better communication, LCPS should include as much information as reasonably possible when informing parents, staff, students, and the community about significant incidents occurring on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event.
- LCPS should take steps to re-examine its transfer process. A formalized protocol needs to be established requiring more vigorous cooperation and communication between, not only the two principals involved, but also, LCPS administration, faculty, SROs, and when relevant, the commonwealth's attorney's office, juvenile court authorities and LCSO
- The LCPS director of safety and security needs to be more involved in situations that threaten the safety and security of students, faculty and staff
- LCPS should tighten policies regarding the types of apps available to students to download on their school-issued devices and should review how Gaggle alerts administrators and law enforcement about possible threats to students, faculty, and staff
- The elected members of the LCSB should limit the degree to which legitimate matters and information of public concern are shielded from the public under the cloak of the attorney-client privilege
- Communication, cooperation and coordination across agencies must be improved when addressing issues of criminal conduct by students, faculty and staff
- Strengthen avenues of support and advocacy for faculty and staff confronted with challenging scenarios that could pose a danger and/or impede learning
- The superintendent's recommendation for the non-renewal of a teacher's contract should be the subject of a separate agenda item and not placed on the LCSB consent agenda
On Monday, Scott Smith, the father of one of the sexual assault victims at the school district spoke to 7News. Following the sexual assault incident, Smith was arrested at a school board meeting while trying to learn more about his daughter's assault. He believes the grand jury report confirms the lack of transparency within the school district.
SEE ALSO | Father of LCPS sex assault victim says grand jury report confirms lack of transparency
"It's just confirming what I already knew. This is what they do. They lie. They spin things they don't want us to know. That's why they never released the report they did. If it was done correctly and accurately it would have been horrific," said Smith.
Loudoun County School Board Leadership released this statement on the report released:
"In spite of the recent allegations leveled against Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) members and Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) employees over the past several months, we are pleased that the Special Grand Jury’s extensive investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone within LCPS, and not a single indictment was filed as a result of this lengthy process.
In a news release on January 15, 2022, Attorney General Miyares alleged that LCPS “covered up a sexual assault on school grounds for political gain.” To the best of our knowledge, this allegation was not true, and, after conducting an eight-month investigative process, during which it had the ability to interview any LCPS employee, Board member, and any other individuals beyond the LCPS community it deemed relevant, and during which it had access to virtually any LCPS record that was not otherwise legally privileged, the Special Grand Jury neither cited any evidence to support this serious allegation nor made any such conclusion in its Report. To the contrary, the Grand Jury's report stated, "We conclude there was not a coordinated cover-up between LCPS administrators and members of the LCSB."
This broad use of the special grand jury investigative process did, however, yield a Report that contains several criticisms of LCPS employees and processes within the Division that are quite serious. We are placing this on our next Board agenda for immediate discussion to reflect on these recommendations and take action as determined by the full Board.
Jeff Morse
School Board Chair
Ian Serotkin
School Board Vice Chair"
