Jon Atchue News Today

A look back at the news and headlines from the past week across the commonwealth.

The Franklin County School Board approved a new policy and procedure on Monday to review books in school libraries that have been identified as objectionable. The new process now gives clear guidelines on how schools in the district will handle complaints concerning questionable books going forward.

The plan is to build the facility on a 40-acre property behind Franklin County High School.

Its a process that every public school division in Virginia is going through.

ROCKY MOUNT — The Franklin County School Board voted 5-3 Monday night to allow parents to decide whether their children will wear a mask while in school.

Divisions across the region continue to try to figure out what to do after a governors executive order reversed a mask mandate.

With public schools on the defensive, is this a blip or a ‘once-in-100-year moment for the growth of Christian education’?

The county School Board on Wednesday night did give teachers and staff the ability to provide more protections, such as dividers and shields.

During a tense special meeting July 26, the Franklin County School Board debated mask requirements before voting 6-1 to leave it up to parents. ROCKY MOUNT — The Franklin County School Board voted to leave it up to parents as to whether their children wear face masks on the bus and in the schools during a special meeting Monday night. The decision passed 6-1, with Gills Creek District Representative Jon Atchue voting no and member-at-large Penny Blue absent. For the past two months, crowds...

ROCKY MOUNT — “We deserve a safe return,” chanted about a dozen Franklin County teachers and supporters as the Franklin County School Board gathered for an emergency meeting Monday evening. The school system was set to bring back students for in-person classes four days a week starting Jan. 26. Desks in those classes will be spaced 3 feet apart as recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics, instead of 6 feet as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent...