Rockingham School Board Condemns Matt Cross Over Controversial Post
UPDATE: The Rockingham County School Board has officially condemned member Matt Cross for posting a controversial video of a fight involving students at Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg. During a heated school board meeting on Monday evening, three board members publicly rebuked Cross for his actions, which they deemed as a violation of student privacy and inappropriate use of social media.
The uproar began when Cross shared a video of the fight on his personal Facebook page, claiming it was sent to him by a student. He refused to remove the video, stating in the meeting, “I’d whip my kid’s butt if they had been in the video.” Cross’s remarks have sparked outrage among parents and officials alike, highlighting serious concerns about the safety of students in local schools.
During the meeting held at Wilbur S. Pence Middle School, board chair Sara Horst and members Jackie Lohr and Ashley Burgoyne expressed their “strong disapproval” of Cross’s behavior. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the privacy and dignity of students, stating, “Such actions are unacceptable, unprofessional, and inconsistent with the standards of conduct expected of a member of a school board.”
Cross defended his position, asserting he posted the video to “protect children,” including those from his church. He indicated that students had expressed fears about attending public schools due to escalating violence. Cross stated, “If you want to condemn me for posting on my personal page, that’s fine.”
The controversy escalated further with comments from Harrisonburg City Public Schools officials, who also condemned Cross’s actions. Superintendent Michael Richards labeled the post “irresponsible,” while Harrisonburg school board chair Emma Phillips called for a public condemnation from the Rockingham board, describing Cross’s actions as “indefensible.” Phillips criticized Cross for blaming “woke” school officials for the fight, which reportedly lasted only 15 seconds and resulted in no injuries.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable to take video footage of minors and share it online to score political points,” Phillips stated. “He’s framing it as an act of concern, but it’s not; it’s an attempt to score political points at the expense of our children.”
As the meeting continued, tensions rose when board member Hollie Cave addressed redistricting issues, leading to further conflict regarding closed session protocols. Horst reminded board members to respect decorum in meetings, reinforcing that public business should not be conducted on private social media platforms.
The fallout from Cross’s video continues to reverberate, raising critical questions about the responsibilities of school board members and the impact of social media on student privacy and safety. As this story develops, the community is left to grapple with the implications of these actions and the ongoing safety concerns within local schools.
Stay tuned for further updates on this urgent situation.
