Virginia parents tell Loudon School Board, "we'll see you in court!"

When Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia governor’s race earlier this month, schools – and particularly parental control of what’s taught in the classroom – was the issue that set him apart, allowing him to defeat the former Virginia governor.

According to a Washington Post–Schar School poll, between September and October polls, education rose 9 points to be the top issue for voters going into the race.

“Exit polls showed that parents who thought they should have a lot of say in schools broke for Youngkin by a wide margin,” wrote Domenico Montanaro at NPR.

White women (think mothers) in Virginia favored the GOP, voting 57 percent for Youngkin and 43 percent for McAuliffe, according to exit polls.

But a GOP victory in the commonwealth wasn’t enough to calm Virginia parents – and tensions between families and school administrators continue to run high. 

Parents at the Loudon Country School Board meeting confronted members of the school board on Tuesday night after the group Fight for Schools filed a petition to remove the board chair.

The parents group collected more than 2,000 signatures.

"By the way, we are well over 100% of required signatures for the petitions," Megan Jenkins told the board. "So I'm not going to encourage any of you to resign because when you are recalled and removed from office, it will be much more satisfying. See you in court."

In order to remove an elected official in Virginia, petitioners must acquire a number of signatures equal to 10% of the votes cast in the previous election for that office, Fox News reported.

Many parents, including Erin Dunbar, accused the board of spending taxpayer money to bring critical race theory into the classroom.

"You have activist teachers using to indoctrinate their kids who are at the mercy of their authority," she said. "That is child abuse. And you have no right to brainwash children into believing that their skin color determines their purpose.”

"I used to think that there was no point in speaking at these meetings," said Jessica Mendez, a Loudon County mother. "There was no point in trying to have a voice because you never seem to listen, anyway. But I had it all wrong. It wasn't you who needed to hear our voices. It was all those parents, grandparents and neighbors listening at home, horrified at your actions or inactions. They were the ones who needed to hear us, and they were the ones who sign petitions, see you in court."

 If a school board member is removed by the court, the board has 45 days to appoint an interim replacement and 15 days to petition the court for a special election.