2 Loudoun Co. School Board members want to review superintendent’s contract after travel

ASHBURN, Va. (7News) — 7News was the first to report Tuesday that Loudoun County Superintendent Aaron Spence has missed a month of the school year visiting ten conferences in places like Puerto Rico, San Diego, West Palm Beach and Miami.

On Wednesday, 7News asked the Loudoun County School Board questions, including should the full school board vote on approving Spence’s travel for conferences and is it acceptable to board members that Spence traveled when Park View High School students were overdosing on fentanyl and will that have an impact on his upcoming evaluation?

READ MORE |Loudoun Co. Superintendent under scrutiny for extensive travel amid school overdose crisis

“I was troubled to learn about the extensive travel taken by Superintendent Spence,” Loudoun County School Board Member Deana Griffiths told 7News. “According to LCPS’ own policy, missing nearly a month is considered ‘chronic absenteeism.’ And although contractually the chair has the ability to approve these trips without board approval, it is my feeling that the school board should take a public vote. It would be my recommendation that the full board revisit the contract and amend that section so that there is greater transparency.”

This year, Spence visited the Consortium for School Networking where he was on a panel to discuss artificial intelligence. The video advertising the conference looks like a party for educators, showcasing Miami’s water activities and beach scene, nightlife, entertainment, yoga, and more. 7News found several photos of Spence at the conferences, including a photo of Spence at the Miami Black Bird Ordinary dance and nightclub on a Monday.

READ MORE | LCPS approves new superintendent contract without student achievement requirements

Spence and LCPS didn’t respond to 7News’ many requests to ask Spence about his travel and neither did Loudoun County School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield who has been approving Spence’s travel.

So far, only three school board members responded to 7News’ emailed questions. Below are Loudoun County School Board Member Kari LaBell’s answers to 7News’ questions:

Nick Minock: Are you satisfied with Superintendent Aaron Spence visiting at least ten conferences this school year? WJLA’s reporting showed Spence missed a month of the school year traveling to conferences in Miami, Puerto Rico, San Diego and other destinations. Our reporting showed Spence has traveled to more conferences this school year than any other Superintendent in the region. Is this amount of travel outside the county acceptable to you as a school board member?

Kari LaBell: “While it is common for educators to attend conferences for professional development, 10 conferences in nine months, to exotic locations, is an overreach, especially as some of them were made at the taxpayers’ expense. This will certainly be one of the points discussed in his evaluation. I feel that a limit of two conferences should be imposed, and the conference should be directly relevant to his position as supervisor, it may be paid by LCPS upon board approval. Any conferences for which he is being paid or attending otherwise should be at his own expense.”

NM: Our reporting also showed Spence traveled to conferences when Park View High School students were overdosing. Is that acceptable to you and will this have any impact on his upcoming evaluation?

KL: “As I was not yet a member of the board at that time, I cannot say what the circumstances were for his absence. It may be that the conferences were already scheduled, approved, and paid for by the previous board. Certainly, it could not be known in advance that the first overdose would occur during his absence, but when more followed, Dr. Spence should have made some arrangements to take control of the situation. As I said, I was not yet a board member, and not privy to any details. However, all of his actions since his appointment as Superintendent will be considered in his evaluation.”

NM: Chair Melinda Mansfield has been approving Spence’s travel. Do you think the full school board should vote on approving Spence’s travel for conferences, professional development, and outside work? According to Spence’s contract, which is attached to this email, “The Superintendent may, subject to prior approval by the Board, undertake consultative work, speaking engagements, writing, lecturing or other professional activities for compensation so long as such activities do not interfere with or detract from his duties under this contact.”