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Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Unlikely allies unite for probation reform, but Youngkin has final say

Virginia’s criminal justice future is shaking up the status quo. In a departure from tradition, a probation reform bill is uniting unlikely allies across party lines.

Governor Glenn Youngkin Unveils "Virginia Has Jobs" Initiative: An Open Door to New Opportunities

Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of “Virginia Has Jobs”, a bold effort designed to further unleash the Commonwealth’s economic strength by connecting Virginia’s tremendous job opportunities with a robust and talented workforce.

General Assembly passes bill giving schools more say on classroom phone rules

Virginia school boards may soon have more control over how cell phones and smart devices are governed in classrooms.

Education

Governor Youngkin to laid-off federal workers: We’ll hire you

Among the thousands of federal workers who’ve been forced out or taken buyouts in the past month, surely some would be perfect fits for...

Loudoun School Board April Chandler Supports Raisings, Unions and Controversial Toilet Policy

April Chandler, a Democratic-endorsed member of the Loudoun County School Board, has emerged as a key figure in recent votes that have stirred both support and backlash in Virginia’s third-largest school district. Representing the Sterling District since her election in 2023, Chandler has consistently aligned with the board’s slim Democratic majority, casting decisive votes in favor of staff raises, union recognition, and the retention of Policy 8040—a measure allowing students to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity rather than biological sex.Union Recognition Sparks DebateChandler also played a pivotal role in a landmark decision, when the board voted to formally recognize collective bargaining rights for LCPS employees. The resolution, a first for Loudoun County, allows unions like the LEA to negotiate contracts on wages, benefits, and working conditions—a shift enabled by a 2020 Virginia law reversing decades of union restrictions. As a former educator and vocal supporter of labor rights, Chandler framed the vote as a win for fairness. “Empowering our workforce strengthens our schools,” she stated, drawing applause from union representatives in attendance.Opponents, warned of potential cost increases and legal battles, citing Fairfax County’s rocky union negotiations as a cautionary tale. Parents have trended concerns about dues siphoning teacher paychecks, with one user posting, “Chandler’s union vote prioritizes adults over kids.” Nevertheless, the measure passed with Chandler’s support, cementing Loudoun as a union-friendly district and fueling partisan divides ahead of the November 2025 elections.Policy 8040: Bathrooms, Locker Rooms, and ControversyPerhaps most contentious was Chandler’s vote to retain Policy 8040, a 2021 measure allowing transgender and gender-expansive students to use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity. Facing pressure from parents, students, and Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2023 model policies urging a rollback, the board’s Student Services Committee reviewed the policy in early 2025. Chandler joined the majority to keep it intact, arguing it protects “the dignity and equality of all students,” as she told 7News.Adopted in August 2021 with a 7-2 vote, Policy 8040 has been a lightning rod, especially after a 2021 sexual assault in a Stone Bridge High School bathroom heightened scrutiny—though the assailant’s gender identity remains unconfirmed. Student walkouts at Woodgrove High School in 2023 and parental protests in 2024, including from Muslim and Hindu communities, demanded its repeal, citing privacy and safety risks for girls. “Boys in girls’ locker rooms isn’t equity—it’s discomfort,” one Woodgrove student told reporters during a 2023 protest.Chandler’s stance has drawn sharp criticism. “April Chandler’s vote keeps our daughters vulnerable,” said a Loudoun parent at the February meeting, echoing sentiments. With Youngkin’s deadline to act on the policy looming, Chandler’s vote ensures Policy 8040 remains—for now.A Polarizing Figure in a Divided DistrictChandler’s votes reflect a broader Democratic agenda on the board, which regained a majority in 2023 amid turmoil over fentanyl overdoses, bathroom policies, and equity debates. With all five board seats up for grabs in November 2025, her record—raises, unions, and Policy 8040—will likely shape Sterling’s electoral battleground.As Loudoun grapples with budget woes, staffing crises, and cultural flashpoints, Chandler remains unapologetic. Whether that vision holds sway with voters remains to be seen.NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Subscribe to our newsletter!  Get updates on all the latest news in Virginia.

Park View High School teacher arrested for intoxication

Loudoun County, VA (February 10, 2025): The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has charged Travis Jones, a teacher at Park View High School in Sterling, with Drunk in Public while at school on February 7, 2025.

It’s time for Virginia legislators to pay more than lip service to social media protections for kids

Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General released a bone-chilling warning on the impact of social media platforms on minors, calling on Congress to issue tobacco-like warning labels. This was followed in Virginia by an executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin directing health and education officials to establish guidance for a “phone-free education” in Virginia.

Feds approve Republican amendments to Virginia’s K-12 accountability and support plan

The board, supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration, made the changes after its members said data from Virginia’s existing accountability system wasn’t clearly delineated when determining the quality of schools or student learning outcomes.

Governor Youngkin seeks additional $290 million boost for school construction

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced that he is asking the legislature for an additional $290 million to support school construction and modernization efforts across Virginia.

Christian Law students sue George Mason after objecting to a proposal to put tampons in male bathrooms

Two law students in Northern Virginia are challenging George Mason University for allegedly violating their First and 14th Amendment rights, after the school ordered...

Editorial: Why ending AP and Honors classes would be a grave mistake for education

In Virginia, the EdEquityVA initiative, launched under Democrat Governor Ralph Northam’s administration, aimed to create a more equitable public school system by addressing systemic inequities that...

Thomas Jefferson High School principal resigns amid declining national rank, merit scholarship scandal

The principal of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria is stepping down after seven years amid concerns about the school’s...

Legislation Supporting Building Blocks for Virginia Families, Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin

RICHMOND, VA – Yesterday, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed ten bipartisan bills, marking a pivotal milestone for Building Blocks for Virginia Families, an initiative designed to expand...

Guns and MS-13 Inside Loudoun County Public School System

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vu0YbfWsf8 00:00:05 >>> A STUDENT WHO ALLEGEDLY HAS TIES TO MS-13 IS ATTENDING A LOUDOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. AND ACCORDING TO SOURCES THE STUDENT WAS...

Virginia New School Performance and Support Framework and Accreditation Results

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that the Virginia Department of Education has released the 2024 accreditation results which classify 85.4% of Virginia...

Virginia Releases Education Report Finding Sliding Education Performance and Lowered Standards in Virginia

Today Governor Glenn Youngkin received the Department of Education’s report “Our Commitment to Virginians: High Expectations and Excellence for All Students.” The education report builds upon Governor Youngkin’s direction in Executive Order One issued on his first day in office. The Governor affirmed his guiding principles to address troubling data trends and outlined policy recommendations to restore excellence in education in Virginia. 

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