School Board Member Recalls Are Allowed in Virginia
Virginia | August 13, 2021
Groups in Loudoun County and Fairfax County are attempting to recall school board members. They’re part of a national increase of school board recalls in 2021, according to Ballotpedia, which reports 58 recall efforts in 2021, targeting 144 officials. That’s up from a 2006 to 2020 average of 23 recalls.
In Loudoun County, recall efforts came as a reaction to school equity efforts, and the battle there has gained national attention. In Fairfax, recall efforts were born out of frustration over virtual learning. Those issues drew increased attention to school boards across Virginia, who now face pressure on issues including Critical Race Theory, transgender policy, and mask policy. Open FCPS is pushing for a recall of three board members, even though virtual learning is no longer mandatory.
“The reason they are still up for recall is because what they did this last year is unforgivable. Closing schools in March of 2020 until the end of the school year was understandable. But continuing this charade all the way until March of 2021 caused long-lasting damage,” Open FCPS Coalition spokesperson Vanessa Hill told The Virginia Star in June… (Excerpts from the Virginia Star)