n LOUDOUN
4 | n LEESBURG
VOL. 9, NO. 5
6 | n EDUCATION
8 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
10| n LEGAL NOTICES
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DECEMBER 14, 2023
School Board Punts Collective Bargaining Resolution BY ALEXIS GUSTIN
agustin@loudounnow.com
At its final meeting Tuesday, the outgoing School Board voted to send a proposed draft collective bargaining resolution back to committee for more study, leaving the complex issue for the next board to resolve. The board voted 6-3 to support a proposal by Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) to remove the School Board’s self-imposed Dec. 31 action deadline and to
recommend that the incoming board establish a joint committee to finalize the structure and conditions of a possible unionization vote with members of the Loudoun Education Association. Under the recommendation, the negotiation panel would include two School Board members, representatives from the Department of Human Resources and Talent Development and representatives from the Office of Business and Financial Services to work on eight items of contention raised by the
LEA at the board’s Nov. 28 meeting. Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) opposed another delay in the effort to enact collective bargaining, after the suggestion to delay was proposed two weeks ago. “Especially if there is a subcommittee formed and we are talking about engaging an education association in the process,” he said. “I think different groups want to perhaps delay this for different reasons. My perspective is that we have a draft resolution that is remark-
ably similar to what has been adopted in several other Virginia school divisions and, while it may take an hour or two, I think the board could take action on this tonight. … They just don’t want to and for me that is not an adequate reason to delay.” Reaser said she was prepared to spend all the time needed to discuss it but said she felt members of LEA should be part of the discussion. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING continues on page 28
Youngkin, Randall Pledge Support During Hanukkah Celebration BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The annual Menorah lighting ceremony at One Loudoun on Sunday night took on special significance two months after the Hamas attack in Israel sparked a devastating war in Gaza. Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined Loudoun’s Jewish community for the celebration on the fourth day of Hanukkah, pledging continued support and to combat anti-Semitism in the commonwealth. “Across time, across spaces the Jewish people have stood in the face of challenges, the darkest of times and demonstrated a resolve that inspires us. From Pharoah to the Nazis, to Hamas, the Jewish people stand strong and it is our responsibility and our privilege to stand with you and light the lights together,” Youngkin said. “We will continue to stand together. We will stand tougher in the face of chal-
lenges. We will stand together in the face of evil, because we know light will prevail,” he said. Amid a growing controversy over student protests that have challenged the boundaries of free speech protections, Youngkin said he recently met with presidents of Virginia’s colleges and universities to encourage a focus on moral leadership. “What we need most is leaders. Leaders with a moral compass to understand the difference between right and wrong. Leaders who understand it is time to stand together. And leaders who will not cower when we see true evil,” Youngkin said. He said that an element of his Executive Directive #6, which he issued Oct. 31, is to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry on college campuses across Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
HANUKKAH SUPPORT continues on page 9
From left, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, her husband Terence, Rabbi Chaim Cohen, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin participate in the Dec. 10 menorah lighting ceremony at One Loudoun.
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