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In a controversial move, the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board conducted a closed-door safety training session where actors portrayed parents engaging in disruptive behavior, according to a recent report by ABC7’s Nick Minock. The training, which simulated a scenario involving aggressive parents, has sparked outrage in the Virginia community.
According to Minock, approximately 30 actors were hired to portray Loudoun County parents in what was described as a mock terror attack scenario. The simulation reportedly involved the actors initially sitting quietly like parents at a typical board meeting before erupting into chaotic behavior including screaming and running around. The scenario allegedly included a parent character with a gun, with staff being instructed to “run, hide and fight.”
Adding to the controversy, the training occurred shortly after a tragic accident at Stone Bridge High School where student Calina Yu, 20, was fatally struck by an LCPS maintenance vehicle on January 13. According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Yu was pronounced dead at the scene.
The timing of the drill has drawn criticism, with some questioning the sensitivity of conducting such an exercise in the immediate aftermath of a student’s death. Board Chair April Chandler had expressed condolences about Yu’s death, stating, “I want to express my deepest condolences to the family and the entire school community who are grieving at this time. We grieve with you.”
Further inflaming tensions, Minock reported that one actor was instructed to portray a character named “Mr. Smith.” This appears to reference Scott Smith, a Loudoun County father who was arrested during a 2021 board meeting while protesting the district’s handling of his daughter’s sexual assault. Smith, whose daughter was allegedly assaulted by a transgender-identifying student at Stone Bridge High School, has since received a pardon from former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
In response to the report, an LCPS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the training “was held in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act,” which permits closed sessions to discuss security-related matters. The spokesperson emphasized that “the School Board does not consider parents terrorists” and claimed that media accounts of the training were “misleading and inaccurate.”
The spokesperson explained that the terminology regarding “terrorist activity” likely came directly from Virginia Code language related to permitted topics for closed sessions, which includes “discussion of plans to protect public safety as it relates to terrorist activity.”
Loudoun County schools have been at the center of numerous controversies in recent years, particularly regarding Policy 8040, implemented in 2021, which mandates accommodations for transgender-identifying students. The policy requires that transgender students be addressed by their preferred pronouns and allows them to participate in activities and access facilities aligned with their gender identity.
The district faced renewed scrutiny after suspending two high school boys for 10 days following a Title IX sexual harassment investigation. The suspension came after the students were filmed by a transgender-identifying female student while expressing discomfort about her use of male locker rooms.
The Trump Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against LCPS alleging that the district violated the constitutional rights of these suspended students. The DOJ contends that the school’s application of Policy 8040 forces students and staff to “accept and promote gender ideology” regardless of their religious beliefs.
As tensions continue to mount between the school board and parents in Loudoun County, this latest incident underscores the ongoing cultural and political divisions that have made this Virginia school district a focal point in national debates about education policy, parental rights, and gender identity issues in schools.
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16 Comments
While school safety is important, simulating a terror attack in this manner seems very heavy-handed and likely to create more fear than reassurance. I hope the board reconsiders this approach.
Definitely, a more measured and thoughtful response would be better received by parents and students alike.
Conducting a terror drill so soon after a student’s death is incredibly insensitive. The school board needs to show more empathy and focus on supporting the community, not antagonizing them.
Absolutely, the board should put the needs of grieving students and families first, not staging elaborate security theater.
Hiring actors to portray aggressive parents feels like an overreaction and could backfire, potentially escalating tensions instead of addressing them constructively. The board should rethink this plan.
I’m curious to hear the board’s rationale for this simulation, as it seems very tone-deaf given the recent tragedy.
This seems like a misguided attempt to address school safety concerns, but the timing and approach are highly problematic. The board should re-evaluate and find a more thoughtful way forward.
I agree, the board needs to take a step back and consider how to build trust with the community, not further alienate them.
While school safety is paramount, this simulation feels like an overly aggressive and insensitive response, especially given the recent tragedy. The board should reconsider this plan.
Completely agree, the board should focus on compassionate support for the community, not antagonistic security theater.
The timing of this terrorism simulation is highly questionable and likely to cause more harm than good. The board should rethink this approach and find a more appropriate way to address safety concerns.
I’m curious to hear the board’s rationale for this drill, as it seems to be tone-deaf and counterproductive.
This seems like a highly insensitive move by the school board, conducting a terrorism drill so soon after a student’s tragic death. Surely they could have waited a more appropriate time to run such an exercise.
I agree, the timing is extremely poor and lacking in compassion. This will only further upset and alienate the community.
This security simulation feels like an overreaction that could further upset and alienate the community, especially after a recent student tragedy. The board should reconsider this plan.
Agreed, the board needs to show more empathy and find a more thoughtful way to address school safety concerns.