In a 5-3-1 vote during a special meeting on March 5, 2026, the board declined to endorse the expansion. The full board includes Chair April Chandler (Algonkian District), Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg District), Amy Riccardi (Sterling District), Ross Svenson, Jonathan Pepper, and members representing Ashburn, Blue Ridge, Catoctin, Dulles, Lovettsville, and Sugarland districts.
Shernoff, speaking emotionally, described tallying votes against the measure as heavy, noting her own struggles and grieved heart. She proposed a phased approach, starting with higher-need or remote elementary schools, and called for better collaboration with supervisors and law enforcement.
The sheriff’s proposal outlined assigning one SRO to cover three to four elementary schools, addressing increased calls for service, including threat assessments. Data shows SROs from middle and high schools were redirected over 5,000 times to elementaries in the past three years.
Currently, SROs serve all middle and high schools via a longstanding partnership. The elementary expansion funding was included in the FY27 budget proposal but later removed by the Board of Supervisors following the school board’s stance.
Supporters like Amy Riccardi emphasized proactive safety for young students. Opponents, including Chair Chandler, expressed reservations. Supervisor Juli Briskman moved to cut the funding.
Shernoff highlighted the need for security officers as a first step, suggesting veteran officers could patrol post-tenure. Community members spoke at the meeting, and calls for town halls persist.
The sheriff stressed on-site presence prevents vulnerabilities during incidents. This follows joint budget discussions where the phased plan was presented.
The decision impacts budget talks, with supervisors holding final say. Debate continues on balancing security and resources.
Source: Field reports and eyewitness accounts.
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