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Virginia's Loudoun County school won't disclose review of two high-profile sexual assault incidents

The allegations, what school officials made public about them were captured in at least one viral video last fall

Published: January 12, 2022 8:05am

Updated: January 12, 2022 11:25am

The Loudoun County public school system in northern Virginia says its review of how high-profile allegations of sexual assault were handled at two of its high schools is complete but that it won't be released. 

The allegations and what school officials made public about them were captured in at least one viral video last fall at the height of parent outrage during open school board meetings over the officials handling on myriad issues including Critical Race Theory curricula.

Loudoun County Public Schools is withholding the report from disclosure in its entirety, citing Virginia laws related to attorney-client privilege and personnel information concerning identifiable individuals, schools spokesman Wayde B. Byard said in a statement obtained by WTOP News

The school system on Tuesday declined further comment to the news outlet.

School officials said they believed proper procedures were followed in reporting the allegations but still hired law firm Blankingship & Keith PC to conduct a review.

In October 2021, a 15-year-old student was charged with sexual battery and abduction in an incident that happened at Broad Run High School. The teen allegedly committed the attack while on electronic monitoring after being charged in May with sexually assaulting a female at another county public high school.

After the second incident, schools Superintendent Scott Ziegler apologized to the families and students involved and said "we failed to provide the safe, welcoming and affirming environment that we aspire to provide," WTOP also reports.

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