Parent Advocate Continues to Press School Officials for Answers
EdNews Virginia | March 26, 2026
Editor’s Note: This article follows our March 16 report on a physical assault in the Centreville High School library. Tonight, WJLA’s Nick Minock confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that law enforcement received a formal complaint from the victim. Despite this police report, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) maintains that community notification was not required. The following emails between Stephanie Lundquist-Arora and school officials reveal the division’s stance.
The ‘Visibility’ Standard
Today via email, Assistant Superintendent Pablo Resendiz clarified his school division’s incident notification criteria. He stated that Fairfax County Public Schools aims to disclose student-on-student incidents only when the situation has been “viewed by large numbers of students” or when other students are at “imminent risk.” This implies that officials’ decision to remain silent on the recent Centreville High assault was informed, at least in part, by a relatively low number of student witnesses — not the severity of the incident or the filing of a police report.
The Correspondence
From: Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 4:14 PM
To: Pablo Resendiz, FCPS Assistant Superintendent; Michelle C. Reid, FCPS Superintendent; Sandra B. Anderson, FCPS School Board Member
Cc: Brian S. Lambert, FCPS Official Subject:
RE: [External] Follow-up on Centreville High School Library Assault – FCPS Regulation 7001.1
Good afternoon, Mr. Resendiz.
Thank you for your response and for clarifying Fairfax County Public Schools Regulation 7001.1.
I understand the importance of protecting student privacy in these matters. What remains unclear to me, however, is the apparent inconsistency in how incidents are communicated to the school community. In cases involving racist language—undeniably serious—administrators often notify parents promptly, even when there are relatively few witnesses.
It is concerning that notification decisions are influenced by the number of witnesses. Whether a serious incident is widely observed or occurs in a more limited setting, the impact on student safety and well-being remains significant. Moreover, this type of consideration does not appear to be stipulated in district policy. Shouldn’t parents be notified of serious incidents regardless of how many individuals witnessed them?
In a situation where a male student physically assaults a female student during instructional hours, resulting in injury and a police report, it is unclear why similar notification to the racist language incidents would not occur. Wouldn’t a physical assault be at least as serious as a verbal incident, if not more so?
I would appreciate any additional clarification you can provide.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
From: Pablo Resendiz, FCPS Assistant Superintendent
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 3:21 PM
To: Stephanie Lundquist-Arora; Michelle C. Reid, FCPS Superintendent; Sandra B. Anderson, FCPS School Board Member
Cc: Brian S. Lambert, FCPS Official
Subject: Re: [External] Follow-up on Centreville High School Library Assault – FCPS Regulation 7001.1
Good afternoon Ms. Lundquist-Arora,
FCPS Regulation 7001.1 establishes procedures for reporting information associated with serious and unusual incidents that affect schools. There are also general provisions on personnel files and FOIA exemptions for personnel information.
FCPS must balance the right to privacy of our students and staff with the importance of being transparent to ensure that families are aware of any situation that may impact the safety of our school community.
The division also has a responsibility to maintain the privacy of students wherever possible. FCPS aims to only communicate about student on student incidents when the situation has been viewed by large numbers of students or other students are at imminent risk. We aim to communicate incident notification to those directly impacted to avoid breaching a student’s right to privacy.
Thank you,
Pablo Resendiz Assistant Superintendent | Region 4 Fairfax County Public Schools
From: Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 7:19 AM
To: Pablo Resendiz, FCPS Assistant Superintendent; Michelle C. Reid, FCPS Superintendent; Sandra B. Anderson, FCPS School Board Member
Cc: Brian S. Lambert, FCPS Official
Subject: [External] Follow-up on Centreville High School Library Assault – FCPS Regulation 7001.1
Dr. Reid, Mr. Resendiz, and Ms. Anderson,
Failing to notify the Centreville High School community—even after the victim of the assault filed a police report—appears inconsistent with Fairfax County Public Schools Regulation 7001.1, which establishes procedures for reporting serious and unusual incidents affecting schools.
An assault in which a physically stronger male football player attacked a female student and destroyed her glasses in the school library during instructional hours arguably meets the regulation’s definition of a “serious and unusual incident”—that is, “an occurrence that threatens the safety and security of students, employees, or property or that disrupts the instructional program or school activity.”
The Fairfax County Public Schools Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) further underscores the importance of power imbalance in such situations. The code explicitly notes that disparities such as “greater physical strength or size” are relevant factors, reinforcing the seriousness of this incident.
Regulation 7001.1 also indicates that school administrators have a responsibility to involve law enforcement when warranted. It states: “The principal or his or her designee shall report serious school incidents that create an emergency immediately to public safety officials.”
Given these provisions, it is unclear why the Centreville High School community has not been notified of this serious incident.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
From: Stephanie Lundquist-Arora
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2026, 8:42 AM
To: Pablo Resendiz, FCPS Assistant Superintendent
Cc: Michelle C. Reid, FCPS Superintendent
Subject: Questions about Male Student Assaulting Female Student in the Centreville High School Library
Mr. Resendiz,
I have heard from multiple sources that a male student assaulted a female student in the Centreville High School library last week. One inside source said, “A boy beat the crap out of a girl.”
I have also been told that school administration has instructed teachers and students not to discuss the incident.
While I understand the need to protect student privacy and avoid sharing identifying information, it seems reasonable that parents of students who attend the school should be informed when a serious and potentially traumatic incident occurs on campus.
Last week, there was also a concerning incident at Irving Middle School in which a student used racist language toward another student, and parents were notified promptly. Why would district policy differ in a case involving an alleged physical assault?
This is also confusing given that, after multiple female students alleged that a male student at Fairfax High School sexually assaulted them, it reportedly took the principal two weeks to notify parents.
I would appreciate clarification on the district’s policy regarding parental notification when serious incidents occur at school. In particular, under what circumstances are parents informed, and what factors determine whether a broader communication is sent to the school community?
Thank you for your time and any information you can provide.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora