Keep control of our local schools in our local hands

Less than a year ago, the National School Board Association colluded with the Biden Administration and the FBI to deem upset parents “domestic terrorists.”  If one thing has become abundantly clear, parents are fed up and want to be heard by their local school boards. Parents do not want large organizations with official-sounding names but no legal authority standing in their way when trying to address the local officials they voted into office.

The Virginia State Constitution gives supervision of the public school system to the Board of Education and supervision of local schools to the elected school boards. Nowhere does our constitution instruct locally elected representatives to hand over their thought and authority to a for-profit lobbying group such as the VSBA.

My concerns with the VSBA began during my first training. This was FOIA training, but there was a conversation about school board members being used to push for gun control in Virginia. One speaker warned us of the “democrat enthusiasm gap,” saying the “realignment of suburban voters could threaten democrat seats.”  They encouraged school board members to develop close relationships with state legislators, saying we could have pull convincing them. They instructed school board members to use the VSBA’s written action alerts to send to state legislators. They said it was important for us to have a “collective voice” because that is where our power is.

Every January, the VSBA invites school board members to attend their “Capitol Conference,” which coincides with lobby day. School board members attend the VSBA “legislative issues briefing,” where lobbyists of the VSBA present their “legislative positions” to school board members. The VSBA instructs school board members to set up private meetings with members of the general assembly so they can advocate for the VSBA’s legislative positions on bills being proposed.

I attended this conference, and it was shocking! Republicans and their bills were openly laughed at and mocked by the VSBA presenter, chief lobbyist Stacy Haney. Delegate Tim Anderson’s school security bill (which included the idea of using veterans as SROs) was presented with the commentary “…the good news is this bill has failed already…that may be the only piece of good news I have to share with you today” followed by a room full of laughter. The presenter then made jokes as she presented a family life education bill proposed by Delegate LaRock. Similar unprofessional behavior followed as she sarcastically presented bills proposed by other republicans such as Delegate Nick Freitas, Delegate Avoli, and Senator Amanda Chase (just to name a few). Bills proposed to increase parental rights, allow parents to opt children out of controversial material, allow review of curriculum/reading material, and allow a full review of budgets were described by the VSBA lobbyist as “the whole republican agenda.”  She then made the comment, “thank goodness for the senate this year” (meaning the democrat-controlled state senate would reject any republican bills passed by the republican-controlled house of delegates). Warren County taxpayer dollars helped fund this event by the VSBA.

Watch leaked VSBA videos from a conference. 

It is important for Warren County taxpayers to understand the cost of $9,521.19 is merely the buy-in for membership with the VSBA; it is not the total cost. In FY 2021, Warren County paid the VSBA $35,454.99 (not including travel and hotel expenses to attend VSBA events). Let us all remember these factual figures when doing our due diligence to compare and explore potential long-term cost/benefit savings by using alternatives to the VSBA.

The Charlottesville-based VSBA does not represent the local culture and values of the small-town Warren County taxpayers. So why would we want them to write our local school policies and train our local board members? It is important to understand that despite having an official-sounding name, the VSBA has no legal authority over us. Leaving the VSBA does NOT mean we will lose out on state or federal dollars, as the VSBA doesn’t bring us any financial benefit.

I ask Warren County taxpayers who you want to represent your values inside our schools. The local citizens you elected and have the ability to contact, the power to influence, and the right to elect or not elect again? Or do you want to give up control to a large for-profit organization that you have no ability to influence? Personally, I believe the Virginia state constitution had the right idea to keep control of our local schools in our local hands. The VSBA has caused a lot of controversy and division in our local school system, and I believe the path to restoring trust in our local schools is to bring that decision-making back to Warren County. I believe the path to saving our local public school system starts by leaving organizations such as the VSBA.

Melanie Salins
Front Royal