As the 2025 elections approach in Loudoun County, Virginia, voters in the Sterling District face a stark choice for their school board representative. Incumbent Arben Istrefi, who assumed office in January 2024 after a narrow victory in the 2023 elections, is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Amy Riccardi, an independent candidate with strong bi-partisan support.

Istrefi’s record over the past 18 months on the school board reveals a pattern of absenteeism, questionable votes, and political opportunism that has eroded trust and potentially jeopardized critical funding for Sterling schools. Far from the transparency and student-focused leadership he promised during his initial campaign, Istrefi’s actions suggest a board member more interested in advancing his own ambitions than serving the families he represents.

One of the most glaring issues with Istrefi’s tenure is his chronic absenteeism and disengagement from key responsibilities. As vice chair of the school board, Istrefi has missed more than 70 votes, more than all other board members combined. Just this month, Istrefi cancelled his Finance & Operations subcommittee meeting when they were supposed to review a $202M contract to build a new high school. He also missed the working session on August 12th where critical school performance results were shared, negatively impacting 7 of the 10 schools in the Sterling district.

This pattern of absenteeism culminated in Istrefi’s missing an emergency meeting on August 4, 2025, convened to address a U.S. Department of Education Title IX investigation into LCPS’ gender identity policies. The probe stems from complaints by male students uncomfortable with a female student using the boys’ locker room at Stone Bridge High School, highlighting ongoing controversies around Loudoun County Public Schools’ (LCPS) Policy 8040, Rights of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students. 

Istrefi’s no-show was particularly egregious, as the Sterling District stands to lose the most from potential federal funding cuts—seven out of ten schools he represents are Title I institutions reliant on these resources. His opponent, Amy Riccardi, attended the meeting to advocate for transparency and student priorities, underscoring Istrefi’s apparent indifference. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s investigation into LCPS policies revealed that LCPS is failing to follow federal law by failing to protect sex-restricted spaces resulting in harm to girls and boys.

Isterefi’s lack of commitment to protecting children and defending the interests of taxpayers he represents appears tied to his broader political aspirations. Less than a year into his term, claiming he had accomplished all he could on the school board, Istrefi launched a bid for the Virginia House of Delegates District 26. The campaign failed, with Istrefi finishing 4th out of five Democratic candidates in the primary. Critics argue this detour distracted him from school board duties, leading to his gradual “disappearance” from leadership roles in 2025. 

Even fellow Democrats on the board, including Chair Melinda Mansfield and At-Large Member Anne Donohue, endorsed his rival in the House race, signaling internal doubts about his effectiveness. Istrefi’s decision to run again for school board now feels like a fallback, raising questions about his genuine dedication to the education of children over pursuing personal advancement.

Transparency, once a cornerstone of Istrefi’s 2023 campaign pledges, has been another casualty of his leadership. In December 2024, he voted to shut off cameras during public comments at school board meetings, a move that came shortly after Muslim, Hindu, and Christian parents voiced opposition to boys using girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms under Policy 8040. Defending the decision in interviews, Istrefi contradicted his promises to rebuild trust, drawing sharp rebukes from community members and media outlets. This vote exacerbated existing tensions in a district already scarred by past scandals, including mishandled sexual assaults and cover-ups that led to a full board turnover in 2023. 

Istrefi’s support for maintaining the rights of boys identifying as girls to use girls’ bathroom and locker rooms under LCPS Policy 8040, despite its role in triggering federal investigations and potential loss of $46 million in funding, further alienates parents concerned about safety and equity. 

Financial decisions under Istrefi’s watch also face scrutiny. He voted in favor to extend Superintendent Aaron Spence’s contract through June 2028 and approve a raise pushing Spence’s salary to nearly $500,000 annually, more than salary of the President of the United States. His vote was criticized for lacking transparency and justification amid pressing budget strains, teacher shortages, bullying incidents, and proposals to limit public input. His acceptance of campaign funds from the Loudoun Education Association ties him to unions accused of prioritizing politics over student outcomes, further fueling perceptions that Istrefi has a “radical agenda.” 

Istrefi’s endorsements of controversial figures, like former Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj—who lost her re-election amid criticism for pro-criminal policies—underscore his alignment with divisive elements in local politics. These choices have not only divided the community but also perpetuated the fragmentation Istrefi once decried in his 2023 candidacy announcement. 

In a district still recovering from years of turmoil, Istrefi’s record of absences, hypocrisy on transparency, and votes that risk student funding and safety demand accountability. Voters deserve a representative who puts Sterling’s children first, not one who treats the role as a mere stepping stone to higher political aspirations.

As calls to “vote him out” echo from parents and activists, the November 4 election offers a chance for voters in the Sterling district to demand better and restore focus on education over ego by voting for his opponent Amy Riccardi. Ms. Riccardi, an accomplished business owner, consultant, mother of four, with a Masters degree in Education from George Mason University is emphasizing common-sense reforms, academic excellence, accountability, and sound educational principles over political agendas.

Update: On Wednesday, August 13th, Istrefi voted along with a majority of the board to defy the Department of Education’s demand to protect boys and girls private spaces based on biological sex, thereby forfeiting $46M in federal funding, much of which would have been received by Sterling schools.