(OPINION) ETH – Parents in Loudoun County, Virginia, received an earful from school board Chair Brenda Sheridan, who refused to back down from controversial equity training and suggested opponents had engaged in “dog-whistle politics.”
“Tonight, the Loudoun County School Board meeting was interrupted by those who wish to use the public comment period to disrupt our work and disrespect each other,” said Sheridan on Tuesday. “Dog-whistle politics will not delay our work. We will not back down from fighting for the rights of our students and continuing our focus on equity.”
Her comments came at the end of a contentious school board meeting during which Sheridan and other board members left the room over a purported lack of decorum. “Public comment is not only welcome but encouraged, during school board meetings,” she said. “The start time for tonight’s meeting was even moved earlier to accommodate the anticipated volume of speakers. In fact, 259 speakers signed up to address numerous issues on the agenda tonight.
This time should have been used for community members to share their views with the board and the public. Even after numerous attempts to ask for decorum, so everyone could speak, those attending insisted on continued interruptions in an attempt to delay and disrupt the proceeding. These politically motivated antics ought to end. But if they don’t, know that they won’t delay our work.” The school board superintendent was the one who declared the meeting an unlawful assembly, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News. READ MORE
