In a decision that followed hours of deliberation, the Shenandoah County school board voted early Friday morning to reinstate the names of three Confederate officers to schools in the district. This move appears to mark the first instance in the country where Confederate names have been restored to schools that had previously removed them, according to researchers at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.

The reversal of this decision, made four years prior in response to nationwide calls for racial justice following the killing of George Floyd, signifies a significant shift. In July 2020, amid the summer of pandemic and protests, the board voted 5-1 to replace the names of two schools—Ashby-Lee Elementary and Stonewall Jackson High—with names deemed more compatible with a resolution denouncing racism. The schools were subsequently renamed Honey Run and Mountain View.

However, the decision sparked a backlash in the rural county, with residents expressing discontent over what they perceived as a rushed and secretive naming process. Furthermore, deeper resentments about cultural changes were brought to light during the public outcry.

Despite a previous tie vote in 2022, which upheld the name changes, opponents remained steadfast in their determination to restore the Confederate names. This determination culminated in the Friday morning vote, which saw the restoration of Stonewall Jackson's name and others.

Board member Tom Streett defended the decision, citing Stonewall Jackson's character, loyalty, leadership, and perceived moral superiority compared to contemporary leadership standards. He and four of his colleagues voted in favor of reinstating the Confederate names, signaling a significant shift in the district's stance on this issue.