The Shadow
LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands School Board convened Monday evening for a meeting marked by student achievements, instructional innovation, and a series of policy and safety updates aimed at supporting the school district’s ongoing progress. The meeting took place at the School Board’s meeting venue and opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call and the announcement of several
additions to the agenda.
Board Chairman Arritt led the proceedings, which drew participation from board members, administrators, educators, and the school boards first ever student board member.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of students who achieved perfect scores on their Standards of Learning (SOL) tests during the 2024-25 school year. Principals from several schools, including Covington Middle School and Jeter Watson, introduced students and their teachers, presenting certificates and celebrating their accomplishments.
Among those honored were Maddox Hale, Adeline Clark, Wyatt Butler, Mason Brantley, Lucas Brookman, Gideon Conrad, Lucas Dudley, and Raina Lopez, each of whom excelled in subjects ranging from Virginia Studies to Math and Reading.
“It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to recognize these outstanding students,” said Sharon Elementary principal Chris Jones, noting the hard work of both students and educators.
The board also heard an instructional spotlight from Allison Fox, a fourth-grade teacher at Callahan Elementary School, who presented on the division’s focus on morphology the study of word structure and meaning as a key strategy for improving reading comprehension.
Fox described how interactive notebooks, morphology tests, and cross-curricular word analysis are helping students build vocabulary and reading skills.
“We’re constantly talking about word analysis in everything,” Fox said, emphasizing the importance of teaching students to break down words into prefixes, suffixes, and root words. The approach, she noted, is designed to help students transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” a critical shift in upper elementary grades.
In response to concerns about traffic safety near Mountain View Elementary, the board approved the installation of 25 mph flashing school zone signs on the school’s access road. The initiative, prompted by a request from Safety and Security Supervisor Chris Fisher, will see the district purchase, install, and maintain the signage, with the goal of reducing speeding during school hours. The board also agreed to explore similar signage for Valley Ridge Road, following input from administrators and community members.
“This is the only school in our district that does not have a 25 mile an hour flashing sign,” said Mr. Fisher, highlighting the importance of consistent safety measures across campuses.
September was officially designated as Attendance Awareness Month, with the board adopting a resolution emphasizing the link between regular attendance and academic success. Administrators reported significant improvements in attendance rates across the Highlands, with some schools reducing chronic absenteeism by as much as 8 percent.
The board also recognized October as Bullying Prevention Month, reaffirming its commitment to fostering safe and supportive learning environments. Board members discussed the importance of year round vigilance and encouraged families and students to report concerns through the county’s online reporting system.
Superintendent Halterman and staff presented updates on the School District’s quality profile, highlighting gains in test scores and attendance, while noting the challenges of comparing data across years due to changes in state assessments. Board members called for deeper data analysis to identify trends and inform resource allocation.
The board approved a budget development calendar for the 2025-26 fiscal year, reviewed reports on homebound and homeschool students, and authorized the sale of several aging vehicles from the transportation fleet.
Policy updates included revisions to student conduct, sick leave, and meal charge procedures, with particular attention to new state requirements on cyberbullying.
The meeting concluded with comments from board members, who praised teachers, students, and families for their dedication and achievements. Special recognition was given to the School Board’s new student board member, Payton Broughman, who was welcomed as a voice for students.
Board members also expressed condolences for recent losses in our country and reiterated their commitment to supporting students’ academic and personal growth.
“Education is the most important thing in the world,” School Board member Bob Umstead said. “If kids are taught properly and feel welcomed, they’ll come back and contribute to our community.”
The next regular meeting of the Alleghany Highlands School Board is scheduled for October 20.
