School board responds to mom’s claim that book in Montgomery County school libraries is ‘pornographic’
Montgomery County Public Schools is responding after a parent voiced her concerns of what she called, pornographic material in one of the school libraries. It’s an issue that has been brought up in schools across the country, but one local mom explained that this problem is also too close to home.
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Montgomery County Public Schools welcomes students with new changes
Blacksburg, Va. – Hauling in air purifiers, dividers and tents, Montgomery County Public Schools welcomed students back with many changes. Equipped with disinfectant wipes, socially distanced desks and passing a fire inspection, tents were installed outside at each school. “We know that outdoors is safer than indoors, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Miear said. Molly McPherson, a Blacksburg High School senior, returned to school and said while her classes were more socially distant, the hallways were not. Despite the extra safety measures, some students still did not feel comfortable returning to school.
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Montgomery County Public Schools to offer remote learning for remainder of 2020-2021 school year
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Montgomery County Public Schools will continue to offer remote learning for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year. School leaders made the decision at Tuesday night’s school board meeting. The district will not move to a phase in which all students are required to be back in classrooms. Board members plan to review data from parent and teacher surveys at their February meeting. Read the approved Montgomery County Public Schools reopening plan in full here.
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One coronavirus case confirmed at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A member of the Gilbert Linkous Elementary School community has tested positive for coronavirus at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School in Blacksburg. School officials could not say if the person who tested positive was a student or staff member. This is the second coronavirus case in the Montgomery County school district. The first case was confirmed at Auburn High School and was announced in late August. Click here to see the database of all COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County Public Schools.
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Runaway teen on silver-and-white bike missing in Montgomery County
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – UPDATE: Haley Hinkey has been found! ORIGINAL STORYThe Christiansburg Police Department is asking for help from the community to find a missing 16-year-old girl. Haley Hinkley was last seen at about 9:15 p.m. on Friday wearing a pink hoodie, according to police. Authorities believe she left the Liberty Street area, about a half-mile away from the Montgomery County Public Schools office, riding a silver-and-white 10-speed bike. Here is a map of the approximate location where police said she left:
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Montgomery County Schools switch to online learning for students in grades 4-12
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Montgomery County students in grades 4-12 will be learning online from home starting on Monday. School leaders announced the change on Thursday evening. Students will stay on their current schedules on Friday so they can get Chromebooks and other items they’ll need during remote learning. School leaders said they made the change due to “the projected increase in positive COVID-19 cases in our area.”As of Thursday, school leaders said there were no positive cases in Montgomery County Public Schools. There are some students who are exempt from having to switch to remote learning, including those with IEPs, those without access to the internet, those who are English Language Learners and students of employees.
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Student or staff member at Auburn High School in Montgomery County tests positive for COVID-19
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. A member of the Auburn High School community in Montgomery County tested positive for COVID-19, school leaders announced Wednesday. School leaders did not clarify if the person who tested positive is a student or staff member at the school. The health department is aware of this case and is conducting contact tracing, according to school leaders. School leaders they will continue with normal operations in the meantime. Click here to see the database of all COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County Public Schools.
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Going to school half days, four days a week is one school systems fall plan
Elementary students will be assigned to either the morning or afternoon group and will attend school for a half-day (three hours) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. All middle and high school students will be divided into Groups 1 & 2 (50% each). Groups will alternate morning & afternoon sessions. All middle and high school students will be divided into Groups 1 & 2 (50% each). Each high school will have a slightly different schedule that will allow them to return to their regular schedules once schools fully reopen.
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Drones now delivering library books to some Montgomery County students
Were really excited to partner with Montgomery County Public Schools," said Wing Public Relations Associate Jacob Demmitt. According to Demmitt, the school district is the first in the world to make books available to students by drone. Students request books through a form that the school put together. After they request, Kelly works with the students to figure out which books to get and she pulls the books off the shelf. Free choice reading, reading students choose to do on their own, is extremely important to academic success and then to life success.

Mental health days may soon be a thing for students in Montgomery County
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. - Middle and high school students at Montgomery County Public Schools may soon be able to take a mental health day. It's all part of a new student driven program addressing the mental health needs of young adults. That's why Montgomery County School administrators and students want to make it easier, and less stigmatizing, to get mental health care. "In March, I felt as if there was a large injustice committed in our county," student Carson Hopkins said. The new mental health advisory committee will work to make students and families more aware of the services they can use.