Latest Updates

Highlights:

January 6, 2021: News of a large donation in the amount of $25,000

being made by a local family directly to SJHS for the Name Change

purposes was shared with Shenandoah Forward. While that donation did

not go through United Charitable, it was a direct result of the establishment

of Shenandoah Forward and we are grateful for the contribution!

January 16, 2021: The Shenandoah County School Board unanimously

voted to accept the recommendation of the committees and rename

Stonewall Jackson High School to Mountain View High School and rename

Ashby-Lee Elementary School to Honey Run Elementary School, and for

the mascot of North Fork Middle School to be the same as the high school,

effective July 1, 2021. On February 16, 2021, following an additional public

survey, the Shenandoah County School Board unanimously voted to keep

the mascot the Generals for the high school, making the Generals the new

mascot for the middle school, effective July 1, 2021.

March 1, 2021: Case no. CL20-984, Rickie Alger, et al. v. Shenandoah

County School Board in Shenandoah County Circuit Court was dismissed

with prejudice.

March 11, 2021: Shenandoah County Public School has secured quotes

and estimates for replacement uniforms, most equipment, signage and

other miscellaneous items that will be required for completing the process

of school name changes. The new total of funds needed is approximately

$304,000.00, a significant decrease from the originally estimated

$500,000.00. While Shenandoah Forward welcomes donations above the

needed amount to be used to further inclusion and equity in our community,

our immediate need for the name changes has become an even more

achievable goal.

March 11, 2021: The School Board voted 5 to 1 to redirect FY21 funds not

expended due to positions unfilled as a result of Covid in the current budget

to cover the cost of the name changes. Despite using monies saved in

FY21, citizens are still using the cost to SCPS as a reason to contest the

renaming and are lobbying their respective Board of Supervisor

representatives to reduce our budget funding for FY22. Therefore,

Shenandoah Forward will continue to raise private funds to offset the cost

to SCPS, and your help in reaching that goal is so greatly appreciated!