ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Over the weekend, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid once again addressed an ongoing controversy surrounding Hayfield Secondary School's football program, around recruiting players, and efforts to keep it from happening again.
The controversy began when the Virginia High School League (VHSL) accused Hayfield of recruiting violations and banned the team from postseason play for two years. Despite two unsuccessful appeals by Hayfield’s administration, parents filed a legal injunction that overturned the ban, allowing the team back into the playoffs.
The reversal delayed the first-round game by six days and sparked frustration among several coaches, who argued the decision undermined the integrity of the sport. In a letter to Superintendent Michelle Reid, coaches from Fairfax, Lake Braddock, West Springfield, South County, West Potomac, and Edison high schools criticized the decision.
“As coaches, we strive to teach our players the importance of competing with integrity and adhering to rules. Those lessons lose meaning when violations go unchecked at the highest levels,” the letter reads.
The coaches ultimately chose to compete but stressed the need for future policy changes. On Sunday, Reid talked next steps in her letter to the community.
"I’ve pledged to do everything possible to ensure we are never in this situation again. We must be accountable to everyone involved, and our focus will continue to be on our students while we are having discussions to resolve this situation. Let me be clear that I expect that everyone can come to a school environment or school-based activity feeling safe and respected," Reid said.
The superintendent said a comprehensive external, independent review of FCPS’ student-athlete transfer and eligibility practices across all sports and all high schools in the Division will be made. She also announced the formation of a "working group" of FCPS coaches, principals and key staff who are involved in the transfer process.
"This group will evaluate and review current practices related to transfer requests and verification of student residency. The external review findings will inform and guide the internal review," Reid said in Sunday's letter.
Heading the group will be Tom Horn, Reid said. Horn has nearly 30 years experience in Virginia athletic administration and has worked extensively with the VHSL on many of their committees, and is a former VHSL Executive Committee member.
In his own letter to the community, Horn said the first meeting of the internal working group is scheduled for Dec. 19, even as details of the external review process are still being worked out.
"While the internal and external reviews will be conducted concurrently, we share the same goal: ensuring that we provide clarity and actionable steps that will strengthen our programs and the student-athlete experience," Horn said.
Horn said there will also be two community conversations, one for schools in the Class 6 Region C, and one for schools in Class 6 Region D, regarding athletic regulations and practices. Dates for those community conversations have not yet been set.
"I’m ready to lead these important initiatives, and my team and I are fully committed to the shared goal of preventing the confusion and disruption of this season from ever happening again," Horn said.