CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Rep. John McGuire wrote a letter to Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Attorney General Jay Jones on Thursday, calling for “a full-scale investigation” into Albemarle County Public Schools and their handling of sexual assault allegations against former staffer Michael Swiney. 

“I urge you to uphold your commitment to protecting Virginians and take decisive and immediate action in launching a full-scale investigation into Albemarle County Public Schools for these incidents,” McGuire wrote in the letter he shared on social media. “Our children’s safety should be our number one priority. We cannot sit idly by while letting predators prey on our children and letting others sweep it under the rug.”

Swiney, 37, a former social emotional learning coach at Hollymead Elementary, was arrested on June 4 and charged with 11 felonies related to sex crimes against children.

McGuire’s letter notes that the Albemarle County Police Department began its investigation into Swiney in January, at which point ACPS placed him on a leave. But parents were not notified of the situation until his arrest, almost six months later. 

“This lack of parental notification is at best negligent and at worst a calculated attempt by the school system to protect their image at the expense of the safety of the children entrusted to their care,” McGuire wrote.

During Thursday night’s School Board meeting, Albemarle County Republican Committee Chair Phil Riese noted that, at a School Board retreat Wednesday, Board members said former Superintendent Dr. Mathew Haas did not notify the Board of the investigation into Swiney until the day before Swiney’s arrest was made public.

After the meeting, School Board Chair Rebecca Berlin confirmed to Cville Right Now that that timeline was accurate.

McGuire’s letter calls on ACPS to “immediately enact a policy to better protect students during closed-door meetings, a clear timeline for parent notifications, and regular updates on the status of the investigation.”

That is a process the School Board has already begun. It discussed a draft of the policy at its meeting Thursday evening and has a public comment forum scheduled for  July 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lane Auditorium at the Albemarle County Office Building.

In the wake of Swiney’s arrest, Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas and Hollymead Principal Joe McCauley have both resigned, Haas’s resignation coming at the request of the board.

McGuire is a first-team Congressman preparing to run for re-election in Virginia’s 5th District. He will face Melanie Lucero in a Republican Primary in August.

On June 30, McGuire made his first public comments on the situation, posting on social media: “I am deeply disturbed by the reports coming out of Albemarle County regarding teachers allegedly engaging in sex crimes involving children. Sadly, we are seeing cases like this all too often. Children must be protected at all costs, and it is the responsibility of the adults in their lives to ensure their innocence and safety. I am monitoring this situation closely and trust the courts to expose the truth and execute justice for the alleged victims.”