Tag Archives: Fairfax County Public Schools

A Bad Week For Fairfax County Schools

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On Saturday, WTOP News reported three legal cases against Fairfax County School employees.

The article reports:

Three Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) employees were arrested or charged in unrelated criminal investigations announced by Fairfax County police this week, including allegations involving inappropriate contact with a student, embezzlement and theft.

The most serious offense involves a Langley High School teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with a student.

Police said the investigation began June 2 after concerns were reported to the School Resource Officer (SRO). Detectives later determined that Matthew Thorsen, 38, from Reston, a math teacher at Langley High School, had engaged in unlawful and inappropriate contact with a student.

He was arrested June 4 and charged with three counts of Indecent Liberties by Custodian and one count of Using a Communication Device to Solicit a Minor. He is being held without bond. FCPS placed him on administrative leave after being notified of the allegations, according to police.

…In a separate case, police charged a Hayfield Secondary School Finance Technician for embezzling more than $40,000 from the school.

…A third investigation involved the alleged theft of woodworking tools from Chantilly High School.

Police said school administrators alerted the SRO on May 29 after learning an employee, Trevor Papavasiliou, 34, from Culpeper, had taken $1,200 worth of tools from a woodworking classroom.

He turned himself in June 4.

Following the investigation, Papavasiliou was charged with Grand Larceny. The school has suspended him from his position.

The cases are unrelated, but Fairfax County police announced the trio of arrests and charges involving school employees on the same day.

Thank you to the police for keeping our schools safe and dealing with employee misconduct. This article illustrates the vital role that School Resource Officers play.

Overprotecting Our Children

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Back in the age of dinosaurs, when I was a child, childhood consisted of skinned knees, various sprains, and occasional bruises. Yet I am still here. Evidently those things are no longer allowed in certain areas of the country.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air posted an article yesterday about the piece of playground equipment pictured below (note the yellow crime scene tape wrapped around the piece of equipment):

This is a picture of a playground structure outside Stratford Landing Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia. The structure was built with funds raised by the school PTA through bake sales and silent auctions. Why is there crime tape around the structure?

The article reports:

Although parents worked with the Fairfax County Public Schools facilities department, purchased the equipment, hired a contractor and had the playground ready for recess, the school system suddenly deemed the play equipment too dangerous. Since Nov. 30 it has been off-limits, say parents.

Never mind that the same equipment is installed at more than 1,200 parks and schools across the country, including a public park in Fairfax County.

But have no fear. The $35,000 structure, put up with private money, will be replaced by the county for $135,000 of taxpayer money. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

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