FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — A Change.org petition had hundreds of signatures on it Friday, calling for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to launch an independent investigation into the “Hayfield Secondary School football scandal.”
Hayfield came under fire this season for its recruiting practices. The Virginia High School League (VHSL) banned the football team from two years of post-season play, but a judge overruled VHSL’s decision in early November.
Although the school received the green light to play, it said it would withdraw its football team from the rest of the season.
Around the time the Change.org petition appeared, some FCPS members wrote a letter expressing their constituents’ concerns about the “football situation,” as they called it, and outlining steps the school division should take.
“The lack of transparency and leadership in addressing this crisis has harmed students, families, and staff while diminishing trust in FCPS. This petition demands justice, integrity, and a commitment to rebuilding trust within our community,” the Change.org petition reads.
The petition calls for an independent, external investigation into the handling of the Hayfield incident, asking that January 2024 be the starting point for the investigation. It calls for accountability from all FCPS leaders, including Superintendent Michelle Reid, and a public commitment to rebuilding the community’s trust, including clear steps to repair the harm done to those impacted.
As of the afternoon of Nov. 29, there were 628 names on the petition.
County taxpayers are mentioned as those behind the petition and its demands, with Lauren Geraghty of Springfield listed as the Petition Starter.
The post said the recent “scandal” highlights a systemic failure within the school division. It claims the superintendent and other FCPS leaders harmed students and families, punishing or ignoring staff members, athletes and their families “who took risks to do the right thing,” and failing taxpayers “who deserve a school system that prioritizes integrity over winning.”
Reid in particular came under fire in the petition, with signers saying her response to the situation has been “ineffective and condescending.” It claims she’s deflected blame onto others, such as the VHSL, and focused on future reviews instead of addressing how the situation was handled since early this year.
The letter claims the school board has “rewarded this failure” by renewing her contract and increasing her salary.
“This level of compensation is unjustifiable for a leader who has failed to act decisively or transparently during a crisis that has harmed students and the community,” the petition reads.
The people responsible for the petition said that if the Hayfield situation goes unresolved, FCPS is teaching its students that “unethical behavior and rule-breaking are acceptable if you win” and trust in the school system further erodes.
“Together, we can demonstrate that integrity, justice, and care for the entire community matter more than winning. Let us show our students and leaders that corruption will not go unchecked and that accountability is essential for a thriving and healthy community,” the petition concludes.
DC News Now reached out to FCPS officials for comment but had not heard back as of late Friday, which was a school holiday.
