Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Eric Williams
Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Eric Williams
Rules of "professional conduct" for Loudoun County teachers and staff that are up for a vote at its Oct. 12 school board meeting.
"Any comments that are not in alignment with the school division's commitment to action-oriented equity practices" would be subject to punishment, if the draft policy is passed.
These comments would "impact an individual's ability to perform their job responsibilities" and "create a breach of trust," according to the policy.
The proposed change would cover all communication by Loudoun County Schools' employees, on campus or off, by telephone, in person or on social media.
According to the draft policy, employee speech that "will not be tolerated " includes anything that district leaders believe could be perceived as "undermining the views, positions, goals, policies or public statements" of Schools Superintendent Eric Williams or the school board.
These comments could "disrupt the operations or efficiency of LCPS," the policy argues.
Per the policy, LCPS employees would have a "duty to report" their colleagues alleged free speech violations to the school administration.
The policy acknowledges that employees have a "First Amendment right to engage in protected speech" but says it "may be outweighed" by LCPS interest in "promoting internal..and external community harmony and peace" and achieving Williams' "directives, including protected class equity, racial equity, and the goal to root out systemic racism."
LCPS employees accused falsely of "violations" of the speech policy are prohibited from "retaliating" against their accuser. Also, the policy would accommodate "false complaints" and not discipline those making them so long as they were found to have been made in "good faith."
Over the past two years LCPS paid a vendor $422,500 to develop "equity" curriculum and training modules for educators.
In a 2019 letter announcing the program, Williams said the move was to improve the "low level of racial consciousness and racial literacy" for the district's principals and teachers.
Alerts Sign-up
