CCS reopens SRO discussion in light of community member concerns

In response to community concerns about the reintroduction of school resource officers—armed police patrolling schools—the Charlottesville City School Board will host a work session at Charlottesville High School on April 16 at 5pm. A coalition including students, community activists, the Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Charlottesville Education Association will hold a rally in opposition to the reintroduction of SROs immediately before the meeting.

Debate about SROs in local schools has persisted since at least 2020, when the Board voted to remove police and introduced the Care and Safety Assistant program. In March 2025, the Board voted 4-2 to bring backSROs after a string of fights at CHS.

Efforts to select new SROs are reportedly under way. Per the current agreement between the Board and CPD, officers would return to schools for the 2026-27 school year.

Organizers are calling for the Board and Superintendent Royal Gurley to rethink, revote, and ultimately reverse the 2025 decision. The Board’s makeup has changed since the March 2025 vote, leaving the potential outcome of a revote uncertain.—Catie Ratliff

Time to vote

Virginia’s in the home stretch for its April 21 redistricting special election ahead of November’s midterms. Early in-person voting in Charlottesville runs Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm until April 17, and Saturday voting on April 18 from 8:30am to 5pm, at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Albemarle residents can vote early from 8:30am to 5pm at the Fifth Street County Office Building through April 18. Regular polling sites will be open Election Day, April 21, from 6am to 7pm. More information can be found at elections.virginia.gov, and in C-VILLE’s previous coverage of the proposed amendment.—CR

Cabernet meeting

President Donald Trump made a quick trip to Charlottesville on April 10, drawing the attention of opponents and supporters alike. Trump was in town for a private fundraiser at Trump Winery to raise funds for his MAGA Inc. super PAC ahead of the midterms.

According to the Federal Election Commission, MAGA Inc. received more than $297 million between January 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026—all from other political action committees.

While Trump’s supporters gathered behind closed doors, protesters rallied along Route 29 ahead of the president’s visit in an effort to directly voice their frustration as the motorcade traveled from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.—CR

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