School board publicly rebukes member over social-media posts; exchange turns heated

Chair Hurst read a public statement at the Oct. 13 meeting saying the Rockingham County Public School Board "expresses its strong disapproval" of social-media posts by board member Matthew Cross that the statement said included employee information and "inappropriate and harmful content involving students from a neighboring school division."

The statement said such posts are "unacceptable, unprofessional, and inconsistent with the standards of conduct expected of a member of a school board," and called them a "serious lapse in judgment." The chair said the board will "continue to act in the best interest of our school division and community" and reaffirmed commitments to confidentiality and ethical governance.

Cross rejected the statement on the floor and defended his actions, saying he stood behind his post "100%" and that he posted a video sent to him by a Harrisonburg High School student to raise attention to student-safety concerns. He said he had "thought and prayed" about the post and would "take the darts" for giving a child a voice, adding he had not "broken the law in posting the video."

The exchange grew heated, with Cross accusing colleagues of political actions and campaign activity and using profane rhetoric in response to questioning; other board members called points of order and said Cross was out of order. The chair then moved the board to enter closed session for personnel, student-discipline and legal-consultation matters under multiple Virginia Code sections; the motion to enter closed session carried 5–0.

Next steps: the board left the public portion of the meeting and entered closed session; the transcript records no follow-up vote or sanction at the public meeting.