On November 9, 2021, several hundred once again gathered in front of the administration building of Loudoun County Public Schools to hear and be heard. I and my visiting parents were among them.
“That night [in 2020], you heard from an expert on COVID-protocols and best practices. He told you there was no reason to avoid in-person learning.“
Outside the building, concerned citizens — several of whom have recently grown to national notoriety as a consequence of their involvement in the Loudoun County School Board issues of the past year — spoke to the crowd. Patti Hidalgo-Menders, Cheryl Onderchain, Ian Prior, Joe Mobley, Xi Van Fleet, and Senator Dick Black were among them. Media were present, including international media. Turning Point USA also had a visible presence, with a table, signs, and lapel pins focused upon parental rights, faith and freedom, and free speech. Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT) also had a banner sign posted.
“Yet, despite the urging of myself and others, you decided to shoehorn the entire county into ‘distance learning.’ “
For this meeting, I was registered speaker #34, out of 203. Once again speakers were allowed into the administration building only in groups of ten, and into the meeting room only one by one, to be promptly ushered out after their 60-second statement. To enter, speakers passed through security and checked front and back with metal detectors. IDs were checked. A placard informed attendees that cardboard or foam board signs were not permitted inside the building. Multiple security vehicles were situated near the public entrance.
“The public has now seen multiple examples of this board giving student safety and well-being a back seat to the self-serving policy preferences of the teachers unions“
Following are my remarks as delivered, except that the time expired before the final (italicized) sentence:
“In summer of 2020, LCPS surveyed parent preference: Distance or hybrid learning. Full in-person not offered as an option, half chose hybrid.
“That night, you heard from an expert on COVID-protocols and best practices. He told you there was no reason to avoid in-person learning.
“That same night, after summarizing our academic and professional backgrounds, I said of myself and the other Dr. Brubaker, my wife: ‘Both of us know how to read and handle data. Both of us also understand how to assess the relative danger of medical situations. Both of us love our children and would not send them into danger, and both of us want our kids back in school, five days a week, this fall.’
“Yet, despite the urging of myself and others, you decided to shoehorn the entire county into ‘distance learning.’
“The results of last week’s election are on you. The public has now seen multiple examples of this board giving student safety and well-being a back seat to the self-serving policy preferences of the teachers unions and Loudoun Democrats.
“Your actions have included lying to parents and taxpayers. Now, you face investigation. Much as I anticipate those results, Scott Ziegler should be fired and every member of this board should resign.
“We don’t enjoy your discomfort, but we do thank God that justice is coming for the many children you have victimized.“