[138 / 1 / 30]
https://nypost.com/2023/11/09/news/conservative-parents-say-public-school-exodus-will-continue/
Conservative parents said they’re looking to exit public schools after an anemic performance by right-leaning candidates in school board elections this week.
With public school enrollment already dropping across the nation, disillusioned parents said they expect the trend to accelerate after hopes of a red wave quickly dwindled when the votes were counted.
“If what we’ve seen in recent years isn’t enough to motivate drastic change, then nothing will,” claimed a mother from Loudoun County in Virginia, a divided district that became the country’s education culture war epicenter.
“I hate to say it, but people are giving up at this point.”
Loudoun County’s schools have been engulfed by controversy in recent years, with parents bitterly clashing at board meetings over a range of issues — from transgender bathroom policies to educational priorities to student fentanyl overdoses.
Tensions exploded into view with the arrest of parent Scott Smith during a Loudoun school board meeting in 2021.
The father was placed in handcuffs after recounting the sexual assault of his daughter by a transgender student in a school bathroom and demanding answers.
Smith was later pardoned by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
“A lot of us thought that that was a turning point,” said another local dad whose child will graduate out of the district this year.
“If that didn’t turn your stomach, if that didn’t wake you up, then what hope is there? I’m glad we’re done in a few months. God help those who are just starting out.”
With all nine seats up for grabs this year, left-leaning candidates are poised to hold a 6-3 majority.
Local Moms for Liberty leader Cheryl Onderchain said conservatives won some key races on the board, but argued a public school exodus will continue without major overhauls.
Conservative parents said they’re looking to exit public schools after an anemic performance by right-leaning candidates in school board elections this week.
With public school enrollment already dropping across the nation, disillusioned parents said they expect the trend to accelerate after hopes of a red wave quickly dwindled when the votes were counted.
“If what we’ve seen in recent years isn’t enough to motivate drastic change, then nothing will,” claimed a mother from Loudoun County in Virginia, a divided district that became the country’s education culture war epicenter.
“I hate to say it, but people are giving up at this point.”
Loudoun County’s schools have been engulfed by controversy in recent years, with parents bitterly clashing at board meetings over a range of issues — from transgender bathroom policies to educational priorities to student fentanyl overdoses.
Tensions exploded into view with the arrest of parent Scott Smith during a Loudoun school board meeting in 2021.
The father was placed in handcuffs after recounting the sexual assault of his daughter by a transgender student in a school bathroom and demanding answers.
Smith was later pardoned by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
“A lot of us thought that that was a turning point,” said another local dad whose child will graduate out of the district this year.
“If that didn’t turn your stomach, if that didn’t wake you up, then what hope is there? I’m glad we’re done in a few months. God help those who are just starting out.”
With all nine seats up for grabs this year, left-leaning candidates are poised to hold a 6-3 majority.
Local Moms for Liberty leader Cheryl Onderchain said conservatives won some key races on the board, but argued a public school exodus will continue without major overhauls.
