On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution requesting action by the School Board and assistance from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to address concerns involving Albemarle County Public Schools.
The resolution responds to community concerns about alleged failures to comply with mandated child abuse reporting requirements and questions about compliance with transparency laws, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
While the Board of Supervisors does not directly oversee school operations, the resolution reflects its responsibility to represent residents’ concerns and request action from the School Board. Legal distinctions separate the Board of Supervisors and the School Board.
What the Board of Supervisors CAN Do
- Articulate expectations and concerns
- Request transparency, reports, and verification
- Communicate concerns to VDOE and request state-level involvement
- Incorporate funding into future budget priorities
What the Board of Supervisors CANNOT Do
- Direct or manage School Board operations
- Mandate personnel actions, investigations, or disciplinary measures
- Require specific policy revisions
- Conduct internal HR or legal investigations
The resolution formally requests that the School Board take the following actions:
- Ensure policies and procedures are in place for mandated reporting.
- Publicly share the scope of work and current status of the internal investigation approved on August 4.
- Launch an independent review of allegations of a culture of psychological safety and employee retaliation concerns.
- Establish an anonymous whistleblower program.
- Review the handling of FOIA requests and develop and publish a corrective action plan to ensure compliance.
- Develop and publicly share a crisis plan to guide the organization through these concerns while protecting student safety and learning opportunities.
- Provide regular updates to the Board of Supervisors for accountability and transparency with the community.
“During this critical time, we must remember what is important. We want to thank the dedicated teachers and school staff who work every day to educate and inspire our children,” said Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chair Ned Gallaway. “Their work is demanding and important. We must help ensure they have a supportive environment where they can raise concerns without fear of retaliation and focus on helping students learn and thrive.”
The Board of Supervisors will send the adopted resolution to the Virginia Department of Education through the state superintendent to request state-level evaluation and support.
