NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 7, 2026Miami-Dade
Federal judge orders Virginia school board to rename schools previously restored to Confederate names
A federal judge has ruled that a Virginia county school board must rename two schools after finding that the board's 2024 decision to restore Confederate-era names discriminated against Black students. The ruling requires the board to remove the Confederate monikers and select new names for the affected institutions.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
This ruling mandates a change in school branding and policy for a Virginia county, directly impacting the names of public facilities and the legal obligations of the local school board regarding anti-discrimination standards.
Key Facts
- A federal judge ruled that the reinstatement of Confederate names to two schools was discriminatory.
- The school board is legally required to change the names of the two schools again.
- The lawsuit was brought by the Virginia NAACP.
- The school board had previously restored the Confederate names in 2024.
Who's Mentioned
locationRoanoke“Location of the news report.”organizationWashington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs“Legal counsel for the NAACP.”locationAshby-Lee Elementary“One of the schools subject to the renaming order.”personMichael F. Urbanski“U.S. District Court Judge who issued the ruling.”organizationNAACP Virginia State Conference“Plaintiff in the lawsuit against the school board.”locationStonewall Jackson High School“One of the schools subject to the renaming order.”organizationVirginia NAACP“Plaintiff in the lawsuit against the school board.”organizationShenandoah County School Board“The governing body ordered to rename the schools.”