<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1G1UPS_1Gx8iE2s00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1G1UPS_1Gx8iE2s00" width="1200" height="799" ><figcaption>HYA presenting their plan to find a new superintendent for ACPS. Photo by Isabella Stuart.</figcaption></figure>On Wednesday, September 23, the ACPS School Board announced David Storm as the new At-Large seat holder after Allison Spillman stepped down over the summer, citing her “personal, mental, and emotional health” as well as “hatred, harassment, or criticism” that her children faced. Storm will hold the position until December 31, 2027, after he was sworn in at the October 8 meeting.23 candidates applied for the position; 13 were interviewed, and those receiving the most public support during public comment at the September 13 school board meeting were Heidi Gilman Bennett, Jimmy Belew, William Woodrow, and Mike McDermott.The ACPS School Board said Storm’s “experience on the long-range planning advisory committee and the county’s Economic Development Committee will really help us as we’re moving forward.” He has a bachelor’s degree from UVA and a law degree from Villanova, held an administrative position at American University, and taught a graduate course at UVA.The board now looks to find a new superintendent with the firm HYA, which does the most superintendent searches in the country. Currently, Chandra Hayes is acting as the interimsuperintendent following the resignation of Matthew Haas earlier this year. This occurred after SEL coach Michael Swiney was charged with 20 felony counts of aggravated sexual battery and taking indecent liberties with a minor.According to the board, Haas was asked to step down in an attempt to rebuild trust with the community because of his lack of communication with the board.The board demanded that Jim Dillenbeck, who represented the Rio District, step down from the board and did so Wednesday, October 7, following a town hall meeting the previous Friday where he, according to the board, “revealed information entrusted to him in confidence…[and] directly contradicted the facts known to this board… Mr. Dillenbeck disregarded accuracy and the privacy of staff…[and] in the wake of that town hall meeting, families and school communities suffered serious damage.”Dillenbeck responded in a statement on Tuesday, October 13: “I held the town hall to give Rio District families a chance to share their concerns directly with their elected representative in an open setting. Many parents and staff thanked me for that opportunity, and their concerns deserve a serious, constructive response…I hope the Board and the administration will move forward with greater transparency, better communication, and a renewed focus on restoring trust.”The board outlined the process for determining the new Rio District member on October 22. The applicants for the seat had a public interview and Q&amp;A on Thursday, October 29, and the board will appoint someone on Thursday, November 5.One Hollymead parent, during public comment at the October 8 meeting, said: “First, you let former Superintendent Matt Haas resign instead of firing him, even though he violated two board policies by telling none of you except Kate Acuff about the Swiney investigation. You [the board] gave him a quarter-million-dollar severance package that agreed to a non-disparagement clause, and because of this, he is still able to control what you are allowed to say about him. You also allowed former principal Joe McCauley (former Hollymead principal charged with failure to report child abuse) to resign instead of firing him, and he has now been indicted and arrested. How much are taxpayers paying for his severance package? You won’t tell us.”He continued, “Kate Acuff, you were the one school board member who was told about Michael Swiney and that police were involved. You never asked whether the alleged victims were getting the mental health support they needed. You [Acuff] are the executive director of a mental health nonprofit. You, of all people, should have been advocating for these child victims. You, most of all, should resign tonight. I’m calling on all of you, with the exception of David Storm, to resign.”Western junior Madeleine Brann is our WAHS Student School Board Member, and if any students have particular grievances that they would like to be presented to the board, they should express their concerns to her.While the board looks to find a new superintendent and fill the empty Rio District seat, parents and constituents of the ACPS school board are demanding greater communication, with one saying during public comment: “Are you representing the interests of your district, and are you willing to tell us what is really going on, or are we going to have to get our information from police reports or news outlets…That’s your job; work for the people.”</div></body>

Block Source: thewesternhemisphere.org

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

On Wednesday, September 23, the ACPS School Board announced David Storm as the new At-Large seat holder after Allison Spillman stepped down over the summer, citing her “personal, mental, and emotional health” as well as “hatred, harassment, or criticism” that her children faced. Storm will hold the position until December 31, 2027, after he was sworn in at the October 8 meeting.

The Future of ACPS School Board

NewsBreak

On Wednesday, September 23, the ACPS School Board announced David Storm as the new At-Large seat holder after Allison Spillman stepped down over the summer

The Future of ACPS School Board

Comments