In a recent decision, the school board of Shenandoah County, Virginia, voted in favor of restoring the names of Confederate military leaders to two schools within the district. The names had been removed four years ago but will now be reinstated. The board members voted 5-1 to rename Mountain View High School as Stonewall Jackson High School and Honey Run Elementary as Ashby Lee Elementary.

The reversal comes after a decision made by the previous school board in 2020, when school systems across the South were actively removing Confederate names from educational institutions in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. However, the current board members who voted in favor of restoring the Confederate names argued that the previous board had failed to consider popular sentiment and due process when the names were stripped.

The composition of the school board underwent significant changes after the 2023 elections, leading to the recent decision. During a marathon six-hour meeting that took place on Thursday night, board member Gloria Carlineo urged opponents of the Confederate names to refrain from bringing "racism and prejudice into everything," stating that such actions detracted from addressing genuine cases of racism.

However, Kyle Gutshall, the lone dissenting board member, emphasized that he respected both sides of the debate. He believed that a majority of residents in his district wanted the Mountain View and Honey Run names to remain unchanged.

The resolution passed by the school board stipulates that private donations will be utilized to cover the costs associated with the name changes. This decision highlights the ongoing debate surrounding Confederate symbols and their place in modern society. It also underscores the divide amongst community members regarding the preservation of historical names versus the need for inclusivity and addressing racial concerns.

The restoration of the Confederate names in Shenandoah County's schools has sparked discussions and sparked various reactions within the community. The controversy surrounding Confederate-related symbols, particularly in educational institutions, remains a significant point of contention across the United States.