Melinda Mansfield

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.