Public Comment At Loudoun School Board Meetings Is Limited to County Residents

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Limits on who can speak during the public comment portion of Loudoun County School Board meetings have been set to give residents a voice over what leaders called outside agitators.

Going forward, public participation will be limited to Loudoun residents, Loudoun students, owners of Loudoun-based businesses, employees of the school system, and parents of Loudoun students.

The change will take effect at the school board's next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Over the past year, Loudoun's school board saw increasingly contentious public participation. This culminated at June's meeting when an unruly crowd was dispersed by law enforcement, leading to arrests.

Read more: Protests Against Trans Students, Equity Derail School Meeting

In a news release, school board members noted the change was to amplify the voices of those most affected by the school system's decisions.

"The School Board is making these changes in order to ensure that the voices of our parents and the LCPS community are heard rather than out-of-town agitators who would make Board meetings a platform for national politics or to enhance their own media profiles," School Board Chair Brenda L. Sheridan said in the news release.

Going forward, anyone who wishes to speak at school board meetings will have to show proof of their connection to the school system. Acceptable documents include a valid driver's license showing Loudoun residency, a current student or employee ID from Loudoun schools, a student report card, or a utility bill or lease agreement for a Loudoun residence.

"An informal survey of our neighboring jurisdictions shows that the Loudoun County School Board is one of the few governmental bodies that has minimal restrictions on speakers," Sheridan said. "Even with these changes, the School Board has some of the most open public comment practices in our region."

Loudoun's school board meetings have been derailed in the past year by vocal protests over hot-button issues. Concerns have been centered on the rights of transgender students, vaccine and mask mandates, equity initiatives, and Critical Race Theory.

Speakers still have the ability to participate virtually in school board meetings. More information about signing up for public participation is available on the board's website.