Protesters Rally Before Charlottesville School Board SRO Work Session

Activists call for board to revote on decision to bring back police officers in schools

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A cinematic painting depicting a quiet, sunlit school building with a group of protesters gathered outside, conveying a sense of political tension and community activism around the issue of school resource officers.Protesters gather outside a Charlottesville school to demand the local board reconsider its decision to bring back police officers, exposing deep divisions over the role of law enforcement in education.Charlottesville Today

Dozens of protesters rallied outside Charlottesville High School on Thursday, urging the Charlottesville School Board to revote on its plan to bring back police officers, known as School Resource Officers (SROs), to schools next year. The rally, organized by a coalition of 12 local organizations, occurred less than an hour before a school board work session on the topic.

Why it matters

The return of SROs to Charlottesville schools has sparked controversy, with advocates arguing that the presence of armed police officers in schools can intimidate students and contribute to the 'school-to-prison pipeline.' The protesters are pushing the school board to reconsider its decision and adopt restorative justice practices instead.

The details

The school board initially voted 4-2 in March 2025 to bring back SROs, with one officer at the high school and another at the middle school. However, a petition has called for a new vote on the issue following the election of Zyahna Bryant to the board last November. Protesters argue the original decision was made without sufficient community input and transparency.

  • The rally occurred on Thursday, April 16, 2026, less than an hour before the school board's work session on SROs.
  • The school board initially voted to bring back SROs in March 2025.
  • Zyahna Bryant was elected to the school board in November 2025.

The players

Terry Tyree

President of the Charlottesville Community Resilience Center and founder of Terry's Tiny Treasures.

Sam Heath

Executive Director of the Commonwealth Justice Coalition.

Zyahna Bryant

Newly elected member of the Charlottesville School Board.

Ann'ylah Jones

8-year-old student at Trailblazer Elementary School who spoke at the rally.

Charlottesville School Board

The local school board that voted to bring back SROs and is now facing calls for a revote.

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What they’re saying

“'They didn't ask for our input. It was a lack of transparency, a lack of our input, and we already agreed to take the SROs out of the schools. Why put them back in?'”

— Terry Tyree, President of the Charlottesville Community Resilience Center and founder of Terry's Tiny Treasures

“'To have police in schools, to have guns in school, is our community's way of saying, 'We want to police kids, we want to abuse control, we want to use fear.''”

— Sam Heath, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Justice Coalition

“'I don't think police should be in schools. It intimidates kids. It makes school seem like jail.'”

— Ann'ylah Jones, 8-year-old student at Trailblazer Elementary School

What’s next

The Charlottesville School Board is scheduled to hold a work session on the SRO issue on Thursday, April 16, 2026, where they will discuss the matter further. Protesters are hoping the board will agree to hold a new vote on whether to bring back police officers in schools.

The takeaway

The debate over SROs in Charlottesville schools highlights the ongoing tensions between advocates for police-free schools and those who believe officers are necessary for student safety. The school board's decision-making process has come under scrutiny, with protesters arguing for more transparency and community input on this consequential issue.