HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Hanover County School Board has come under fire in recent years after community members accused its appointed members of letting politics and religious views interfere in school matters, from books to restrooms.
Now, the board is once again facing public backlash over its decision to withdraw from the Virginia School Boards Association.
“We’re still in the process of this committee focusing on the wrong issues,” one community resident said at a recent School Committee meeting.
Board members suggested ending their involvement with the Virginia State School Boards Association (VSBA) and pursuing other options. Robert Hundley, who has served on the school board for 20 years but was not re-elected this year, said he is not convinced this is the best way to promote neutrality.
“I should point out another organization that we’re looking at,” Handley said, “and while I may agree with all of the support that they’re putting in place politically, I don’t think there’s any denying that it’s highly political.”
The other group under consideration is known as the School Board Members Alliance (SBMA). Founded just two years ago, it is a relatively new group that has received support from right-wing religious groups like the Family Foundation.
The group has gained notoriety in York County recently, allegedly threatening York County School Board members ahead of a vote. The county’s governing body has since severed ties with the group, leaving some local residents hesitant to get involved in Hanover.
“The school board is too new to transition from the unproven VSBA to the SBMA,” a local resident said at a recent school board meeting in Hanover.
One board member pointed out during the meeting that SBMA’s dues are lower than VSBA’s, so a switch could save money and be worth considering.
“We encourage you to try new things,” the member said.
Another board member pointed out that dues were due next week if the board remained with VSBA, but the board chair dismissed this concern, saying missing the payment deadline would not be an issue, so the board agreed to postpone further discussion until next month.
