School Board approves Collective Bargaining

By Reed Carver

As of approximately 11 p.m. on Aug. 13, Loudoun County Public Schools will have “an exclusive bargaining unit,” that is LEA, the Loudoun Education Association. 

At the School Board Public Hearing, about 45 speakers with LEA were in favor of the unionization. 

“I encourage you to adopt the Collective Bargaining system. I am a first grade teacher at Rolling Ridge Elementary School. This [collective bargaining] brings the promise that they [school administration] will sit with them and make this the best school system for our students as well as teachers,” said Steve Greenburg.

Charles Hansen said, “I teach high school math … Educators are in our buildings every day, we know what works. All I got in my contract was sign it, or leave.” He said teachers need more negotiating power. 

Wallace Judd said, “I am a fourth grade teacher. Unions are a thinly veiled invitation to corruption. Union-backed members [of the board] return favors with higher wages. Who is missing here? Parents, and students. Who needs an intermediary?”

Another resident of Loudoun said, “[Unionization] will have a detrimental effect. It will cost residents 3 million dollars per year, and Loudoun County already has a support system—why do we need more bureaucracy? [to the board] Why would you give away your decision-making power?”   

Lauren Shernoff, (Leesburg) supported by Deana Griffiths, (Ashburn) and Kari LaBell, (Catoctin) sought to modify the resolution to retain more Board control, but those efforts repeatedly failed because they were not supported in votes by the other Board members.

Anne Donohue (At-Large) said, “as has been alluded, this is a momentous meeting; I grew up with unionized schools. To those opposed, it’s not unusual for anxiety to appear, [when a big change happens]. I will support this motion, and I’ve been consistent about my desire for it to pass.”

The vote passed 6 to 3, with Shernoff, Griffiths, and LaBell opposed. 

This article has been updated to reflect that Steve Greenburg is a first grade teacher at Rolling Ridge Elementary School in Sterling.