Loudoun County School Board Member Resigns Amid Recall Attempt, Board’s Sexual Assault Cover-Up Scandal
Amid an intense recall, Loudoun County School Board member Beth Barts announced her resignation from the leftist school board Friday. Her resignation comes just a day after reports that the school board failed to report numerous sexual assault claims in the district for years, and days after a Daily Wire investigation revealed that Loudoun County Public Schools tried to cover up an alleged sexual assault in a school bathroom, while the victim’s father was arrested at a school board meeting and later smeared as a “domestic terrorist.”
“I am grateful to have had a role in empowering students to achieve academic and personal success in supportive and most importantly inclusive school environments. I am especially proud to have participated in helping steer the Loudoun County School System through the uncharted waters of educating students throughout a global pandemic,” Barts said in a press release. “Though not an easy task, I remained committed to doing what was best for all of Loudoun County Public School students and staff.”
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) October 15, 2021
Barts, one of the nine school board members, represented the Leesburg District in Loudoun County, Virginia starting in January 2020. During her term, the school board allowed racist critical race theory curriculum in schools and silenced dissenting parents, in addition to covering up multiple sexual assault allegations from students.
Since she was elected in 2019, Barts said she’s “personally responded to 10,518 emails, attended over one hundred in-person and virtual meetings and logged more phone calls with school personnel and constituents than I can count,” adding that she believes she provided “the best service to the community I could.”
But despite allegations from Loudoun County dad Scott Smith that the school district covered up his daughter’s rape by a “gender-fluid” boy in a girl’s bathroom, Barts has vehemently denied that such assaults are an issue in Loudoun County schools.
“Our students do not need to be protected, and they are not in danger,” Barts said. “Do we have assaults in our bathrooms or locker rooms regularly?”
Barts announced her resignation one day after an explosive Daily Wire report revealed that despite Bart’s denial, Loudoun County Public Schools did not report numerous sexual assault allegations.
In March, Barts was censured by the school board for inappropriate and inflammatory interactions with community members and for bullying parents.
Barts “fail[ed] to put student interest first … to show respect for fellow board members and staff in a spirit of harmony and cooperation … to welcome and encourage active cooperation of Loudoun County residents in the district … [and] to work in the spirit of teamwork in service to the community,” Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan said.
The parent group Fight for Schools has been pushing for a recall of school board members since the summer. Barts, the group said, did the right thing.
“We have made known our displeasure with her actions as a school board member over the past several months, but today she has done the right thing. Her former colleagues should take notice,” a statement from the group read. “The community should know, however, that the problems at Loudoun County Public Schools and on the school board will go well beyond one school board member. We will continue to shine a light on Loudoun County Public Schools and will keep fighting until we have a school board of common sense, non-partisan members and a superintendent who is accountable to parents and tells the truth.”
.@fightforschools issues statement on the resignation of #loudouncounty school board member Beth Barts. pic.twitter.com/uUqnXzLkdC
— Ian Prior (@iandprior) October 15, 2021
In September, the Citizens of the Leesburg District filed a petition to recall Barts, citing the board member’s “neglect of duty, misuse of office, and incompetence in the performance of her duties.”
Barts’ resignation is effective Nov. 2 and the board will fill her position in December.
“I want to thank Board Member Barts for her service to the Leesburg District,” Sheridan said in a statement. “The School Board will announce its process for filling the Leesburg seat at its October 26 meeting and anticipates filling this position at its December 14 meeting.”
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