Costs Associated With Scandals, Lawsuits Soar
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora | April 1, 2026
(EdNews Virginia) — On March 23, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Michelle Reid announced that she is enlisting the services of yet another law firm, McGuireWoods, to “investigate” the district’s latest scandal — allegations that an 18-year-old illegal immigrant fondled the genitals of several female students in Fairfax High School. The district’s legal bills are mounting.
In her announcement, Reid said she retained “an independent outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive review of this matter.” The district’s contract with McGuireWoods, however — authorizing attorneys’ fees of up to $1,850 per hour — suggests a role less “independent” than described.
“McGuireWoods was retained by Client on March 19, 2026, to conduct a confidential, attorney-client privileged investigation concerning allegations of sexual harassment and/or assault of students at Fairfax High School,” the contract states. “The investigation has been undertaken for the purpose of providing legal advice to Client.”
Newly released figures reveal that even before FCPS’s contract for McGuireWoods to provide legal advice, not “conduct an independent investigation,” on the matter of alleged sexual assault in Fairfax High School took effect, February 2026 became the district’s costliest legal month on record at $3.8 million — driving total legal spending for fiscal year 2026 to more than $12 million.
| Law Firm (FY 2026) | Amount Paid |
|---|---|
| King & Spalding | $7,515,362 |
| Hunton Andrews Kurth | $1,266,437 |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher | $906,246 |
| McGuireWoods | $597,851 |
| Blankingship & Keith | $848,689 |
| Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore | $463,671 |
| Michael E. Kinney | $252,623 |
| Isler Dare | $108,298 |
| Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black | $81,472 |
| Law Offices of Polly Chong | $4,105 |
| Sands Anderson | $3,682 |
| TOTAL PAID (FY 2026 TO DATE) | $12,048,435 |
One firm in particular, King & Spalding, accounted for $3.1 million of the district’s legal expenses in February alone, and $7.5 million so far this fiscal year. The district’s division counsel, John Foster, signed a contract with the firm agreeing to pay attorneys up to $1,850 per hour to investigate allegations related to an abortions-related scandal at Centreville High School.
Before that “independent” investigation was completed, the district retained the same firm to represent it in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower.
Reid’s contract to run Virginia’s largest school district began on the first day of fiscal year 2023. Since then, the district’s legal expenses have risen substantially — totaling roughly 50% more from fiscal years 2023 through 2025 than during the previous three years under her predecessor. In a district marred with scandal, and fighting the federal government for boys’ “rights” to use girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms at school, fiscal year 2026 is on track to set a new record for the highest legal expenses in the district’s history.
| Fiscal Year | Total Paid |
|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $6,401,078 |
| FY 2021 | $5,066,049 |
| FY 2022 | $6,312,989 |
| FY 2023 | $6,925,475 |
| FY 2024 | $11,619,332 |
| FY 2025 | $7,656,968 |
| FY 2026 (TO DATE) | $12,048,435 |
| CUMULATIVE TOTAL | $56,030,326 |
At a time when Fairfax County Public Schools is confronting repeated controversies, its reliance on costly outside legal firms has pushed spending to unprecedented levels. With fiscal year 2026 on pace to set a new record, taxpayers are left to weigh whether these escalating legal bills reflect necessary accountability — or a pattern of reactive governance, poor leadership, and efforts to obscure internal failures.
Ms. Lundquist-Arora is a Fairfax parent and leads the county’s Independent Women’s Network chapter.