Financial records reviewed by 7News indicate two Spotsylvania County school board members attended a conference hosted by an organization with ties to a political action committee, paid for by taxpayers.
Those records indicate Vice Chair April Gillespie and Lisa Phelps attended the Virginia Education Summit on May 6-7 hosted by Middle Resolution Policy Network, a self-described “public advocacy organization.”
Middle Resolution bills itself as a political action committee “committed to identifying and electing qualified candidates who align with core conservative principles, advancing public policy that promotes the proper role of government in education, healthcare and election law, and holding leaders accountable to their promises to their constituents.”
Board member Dawn Shelley argues that goes against board ethics policies.
One of the bullets states, “I will refrain from using the board position for personal or partisan gain and avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety.”
The purpose of the conference, according to the conference website, is “to meet parents, activists and legislators from across Virginia who are engaged in restoring and reforming our education system and ensuring that there is true education choice in Virginia. Let’s make sure that every child succeeds!”
7News On Your Side asked Board Chair Kirk Twigg, who approved the request, and Vice Chair Gillespie, who attended, if board members should be going to conferences that are tied to or associated with political action committees.
Neither would answer the question.
During the meeting, Twigg falsely claimed the conference was a Virginia Department of Education conference.
The only tie 7News On Your Side found came with Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Schultz.
She was listed as one of the speakers.
7News On Your Side also checked the list of conferences associated with the Virginia School Boards Association.
The Virginia Education Summit was not listed there either.
According to the financial records, Twigg signed off on $501 in expenses for both Gillespie and Phelps.
Emails show he denied Shelley from attending conferences that were listed by the Virginia School Boards Association.
“Go on your dime if you wish,” he wrote in one of the denials.
Shelley wants the money used for the Virginia Education Summit returned to the taxpayers.