Speakers press Loudoun County School Board on labor contract, arts partnership

Two Loudoun County residents addressed the Loudoun County School Board during the public comment period at its August 11 meeting, raising the division’s new employee contract and a proposed arts partnership. Under school board Policy 2520, members did not answer questions or respond directly to the speakers. ^{2:28:05 2:30:19 2:36:48}

April Chandler (Chair; Board member, Algonkian District) opened the item and read the board’s public comment procedures, noting that speakers were allotted two minutes each based on the number of speakers and the evening’s agenda, and that there were no virtual speakers. ^{2:28:05 2:29:11 2:31:32}

Chris Countryman, a public commenter, thanked the board for its work and said the year marks the first time Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) has begun a school year with a collective bargaining agreement in place. He said every employee needs to understand the benefits, rights and protections in the agreement, and pledged to give grace during what he expected would be growing pains, asking the division to do the same. ^2:32:39

He also pointed to what he called unfinished business from last year, including bargaining unit inclusion and reclassifying sub drivers and communication technicians, along with ensuring employees receive benefits. He said those issues directly affect employees and deserve timely resolutions. ^2:34:00

Brian Kirk, a public commenter, spoke on behalf of the Loudoun Arts Council, which he said has existed for 40 years and has expanded from a visual arts focus to include ballet, theater and music, encompassing about 100 nonprofit organizations. He said the public schools appear to be missing from that group and asked for an advisory committee or other connection with the school division. ^2:34:37

Kirk, who said he was a fine arts department chair at Stone Bridge High School for 20 years, said theater, art, music and dance specialists could help shape a vision for the arts beyond individual classrooms and schools. He said the Council is seeking ways to keep students who pursue careers as artists, dancers or theater specialists in Loudoun County. ^{2:34:37 2:36:12}

Chandler thanked both speakers, and the board returned to its work session, taking up a presentation on annual stakeholder survey results. ^2:36:48