Warren County School Board Reviews Ethics Policy, Social Media Rules, and Rejoining State Association

The Warren County School Board met Wednesday night, November 19, 2025, for a packed work session that covered school safety, budget audits, calendar planning, and a deeper look at proposed policies shaping board conduct and employee communication.

Board Chair Kristen Pence, Vice Chair Antoinette Funk, and members Andrea Lo and Thomas McFadden Jr. were present. Melanie Salins, recently censured by the board, was absent.

The board took no formal action on several policy proposals but signaled that major updates may come in January, when two new board members, George Cline Jr. and Sara Jones, are sworn in.

New Look at School Safety

The evening began with a report from Sergeant Kristin Hajduk, School Resource Officer (SRO), who shared an overview of student-related incidents for October 2025. Across Skyline and Warren County middle and high schools, there were 23 total offenses, including fights, drug-related violations (mostly THC vape devices), computer-related misconduct, and one report involving child pornography.

Skyline High School had the highest number of incidents (8), followed by Skyline Middle School (6). A noticeable rise in threat assessments, reports of potential self-harm or violence, was also reported, a trend the SRO said often spikes around the holidays.

“This is typical around November and December,” the officer explained. “We also get more calls outside of schools when people are feeling lonely or dealing with grief.” The officer also shared updated visuals showing incident locations and types, aimed at helping the board better target prevention strategies. Board members supported continuing with the new format.

Audit Shows School Funds in Order

Next, Robert Ballentine, Director of Finance, presented the Fiscal Year 2025 School Activity Fund Audit, required by law and conducted by Robinson Farmer Cox & Associates.

Ballentine explained that these funds are not taxpayer dollars, but rather money collected by schools through fees, fundraisers, and event ticket sales. “They’re managed at the school level for student benefit,” he said.

Of all schools reviewed, only R.E. Jeffries Elementary had no audit findings. Other schools had only minor issues, such as misplaced receipts or documentation delays. Ballentine emphasized the diligence of school bookkeepers and said none of the findings indicated misuse.

The board unanimously accepted the audit report.

School Calendar for 2026–2027 Finalized

The board also gave final approval to the 2026–2027 academic calendar. The first day of school will be August 12, 2026, with the last day set for May 27, 2027. The calendar meets the required 180 instructional days and was shaped by feedback from families and staff.

Ethics and Conduct Policy Delayed for New Board

One of the night’s most detailed discussions focused on a proposed Warren County School Board Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The document outlines board member responsibilities, ethics expectations, relationships with the superintendent and board clerk, and options for accountability if a member violates the code.

Andrea Lo and Thomas McFadden Jr. led the drafting process. Lo said the current draft combines feedback from the public and from both board member-elects, Cline and Jones. McFadden revised Lo’s draft into a more cohesive format modeled after Stafford County’s board governance protocols.

“It’s good to look through and say, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m doing. That’s what it’s about. This is it,” McFadden said, describing the guide as helpful, not punitive.

The current draft mentions that failure to follow the code could lead to a vote of censure, although Warren County currently lacks a formal policy outlining how censure would be carried out. McFadden suggested the board might consider developing that in the future.

The discussion comes just weeks after the board voted to censure Melanie C. Salins, citing an ethics violation. While not directly referenced in the meeting, the decision is a clear backdrop to the current push for a formal code of conduct.

Vice Chair Antoinette Funk, whose term ends in December, thanked Lo and McFadden: “I do appreciate it and… I believe it is definitely needed. I hope it will continue to move forward and be a part of this board’s expectations.”

The board agreed to wait until January 2026 to vote, allowing new members to review the document and take part in the decision.

VSBA Rejoining Inquiry Moves Forward

The board voted to authorize Chair Kristen Pence to send a letter to the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) regarding the steps and costs to rejoin the organization. In 2023, the board voted 4–1 to leave the VSBA.

While no decision about rejoining has been made, the letter will help the board gather information before the new members take office.

Social Media Policy: Seeking Clarity

The board also reviewed a fourth draft of a policy that sets rules for employee use of social media and digital communication with students. The draft aims to protect both students and staff by discouraging private communication outside of school-approved platforms. But administrators raised concerns about unintended consequences.

McFadden and other board members suggested edits to clarify that non-school relationships, such as neighbors or family friends, should not automatically violate policy. They also proposed changing the language so teachers could still use personal devices for legitimate school business, such as field trip coordination, as long as parents approve.

The board decided to share the revised policy draft with school administrators for feedback before sending it to the division’s attorney. Lo encouraged teachers and staff to provide input, saying, “We haven’t heard a lot on this one, and we’d love to.”

Other Actions

The board also held a first reading of new and revised policies from the School Board Member Alliance (SBMA), covering:

• Procurement of goods and services
• School crisis and emergency planning
• Reporting and handling exposure to viral infections
• Staff training related to health protocols
• Acceptable use of school computer systems

No action was taken on these items, and updates are expected in December or early 2026.

What’s Next

The next regular school board meeting will likely include additional policy readings and updates, but major votes on the ethics code and social media policy will likely be held in January, after the board welcomes its two new members.

Both Funk and Lo will conclude their service on December 31, 2025, after deciding not to seek re-election.

Watch the November 19, 2025, Warren County School Board Meeting.