In a recent development, the signs for Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School have been put back in place, while the signs for Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary Schools have been moved to storage, according to a leader of The Coalition for Better Schools.

Following the nationwide social justice movement sparked by the tragic death of George Floyd, the names of the Shenandoah County Public Schools buildings were changed to Mountain View and Honey Run in 2020. However, on May 9, the Shenandoah County School Board voted to revert the names back to Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School due to a lack of public input during the 2020 process.

School Board Chairman Dennis Barlow stated that incremental changes will take place over the summer with a tentative date of July 1 for the complete restoration of the names. Unlike the previous name changes, which were funded by taxpayers, the recent renaming will be financed through public donations, with The Coalition for Better Schools spearheading the fundraising efforts.

Mike Scheibe, a representative from the local group, stated that they have received donations from all over the country to support the name changes. Although an exact amount of money raised was not provided, Scheibe mentioned that there are enough pledges reaching into six figures, indicating that adequate funds have been secured.

While the exact cost of implementing the new signs was not disclosed, taxpayers will not be burdened with the expense as it will be covered by the public donations received by The Coalition for Better Schools.

The reinstatement of the Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School signs reflects the Shenandoah County School Board's commitment to address public input regarding the school names. This decision marks another step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful educational environment for all students.