Author: Charlotte Matherly

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County schools tweak draft of book challenge policy, superintendent reiterates support for safety amid cuts

The Rockingham County School Board unveiled the latest versions of its proposed library book selection and challenge policies that walked back several key provisions on Monday.

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Rockingham Co. Schools to reassign employees in light of 36 position cuts, including counseling staff

Rockingham County schools will cut nine counseling and behavior support assistants across the district next year along with more than 30 other position cuts and reductions to rectify a budget shortfall of millions of dollars.

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A colorful book held in someone's hands

Bridgewater College student sets up ‘banned book fair’ Thursday to offer access to titles removed from county schools

Rockingham County students can’t access “The Invisible Boy,” “The Kite Runner,” “Heartstopper” or 54 other books in their school libraries now, but a local college student wants to make them available in a different way.

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Rockingham Co. school chair claims ‘there is no conflict’ with attorney, suggests he might not show up to April 1 emergency meeting

What had otherwise been a low-temperature Rockingham County school board meeting ended with a lengthy speech by board chair Matt Cross addressing questions about RCPS’s new legal counsel after The Citizen and the Daily News-Record reported on a potential conflict of interest. In his remarks, he suggested he and other county board members might not attend an April 1 emergency meeting about the issue. 

A person holds the book "Drama"

Many Rockingham Co. parents and school staff have opinions and almost all have questions about book policies

“A joke,” one person called them. “Politically motivated disaster,” opined another. A “confusing, unnecessary overreach,” said one more — a sentiment that was repeated, just with different wording, in other responses. These were a few people’s opinions on the Rockingham County School Board’s proposed policies to determine selection and challenge criteria for library books, according to survey responses obtained by The Citizen through a Freedom of Information Act request.

A colorful book held in someone's hands

Rockingham County’s school board unveils proposals for selecting, reviewing and challenging books

The draft policies that the Rockingham County School Board presented Monday regarding the selection and review of books in schools would prohibit teachers and librarians from acquiring any books that contain sexually explicit content.

‘Don’t overlook the student journalists’: HHS students plan to bring award-winning approach to Rocktown H.S.

When Harrisonburg High School junior Jumana Alsaadoon found out her student newspaper was nationally recognized, she said she was “shocked.” But then it began to sink in: This national award from the Journalism Education Association was the result of several years of hard work.

A colorful book held in someone's hands

County school board inches closer to book policy, considers creating agricultural land lab

The Rockingham County School Board is preparing to release draft policies for library book selection and reviews. It also debated the creation of an agricultural land lab and is crafting its 2024-25 budget, despite uncertainty in the Virginia legislature.

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