Schools

Alexandria School Board Supports Lawsuit Opposing Governor's School Takeover Law

Board adopts resolution that says Opportunity Educational Institution legislation "usurps the role of local school boards."

The Alexandria School Board unanimously voted Thursday to support a lawsuit being pursued by the Virginia School Boards Association and the Norfolk City School Board challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s school takeover law.

The board adopted a resolution that states the Opportunity Educational Institution legislation “usurps the role of local school boards in supervising and managing the public schools of the Commonwealth.” The resolution does not commit any monetary support to the lawsuit.

The governor-created bill, which the General Assembly enacted in its 2013 session, requires any school that has been denied accreditation or has been accredited with warning for three consecutive years to be transferred to the control of an OEI board.

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The school takeover bill became law in July, but the personnel to institute its measures have yet to be appointed or hired.

Members of the Alexandria City School Board have expressed opposition to the OEI legislation because they want to maintain local control of Jefferson-Houston School, which has lost accreditation and is in line for takeover.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The idea that somehow this awful piece of legislation is going to be a quick remedy for any of our schools....is simply misguided,” Justin Keating, vice chair of the school board, said Thursday according to The Washington Post.

The Alexandria School Board was close to pursuing a lawsuit of its own against the OEI legislation.

In a June 23 profile of Jefferson-Houston in the Post, District A School Board member Bill Campbell said  Alexandria should use everything in its power to prevent state takeover, including challenging the constitutionality of the law that created the OEI.   

McDonnell, who was in Alexandria on Sept. 6 for an economic forum, told reporters he was “very disappointed” in the lawsuit, which Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has refused to defend.

“I’m very disappointed school boards are litigating this mater when they should be focused toward improving these schools,” McDonnell said.

McDonnell said he will use outside counsel.

The Governor visited T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria on Aug. 15 for a forum about K-12 education that included members of the city’s leadership.

“If we don’t keep standards, accountability and resources high, we’re failing,” McDonnell said to reporters after the forum. “OEI is one tool that we have. … After three or four years, if a school is still getting a D or an F, the state has to step in. … I’m here to collaborate [with the Alexandria school board]. We need to find out how we make this work best.”

The Fairfax County School Board passed a similar resolution on Thursday.


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