The schools are offering their students something a lot of people will be grateful for: free lunches.

Alleghany County Public Schools and Covington City Public Schools are merging to create Alleghany Highlands Public Schools.

Several juveniles are in custody following an incident on an Alleghany County school bus that involved a pellet gun.

Officials with the City of Covington say they are down to just three potential names for its new combined middle and high school.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Alleghany County Public Schools has a new leader who’s quite familiar with the area. The school board announced Monday night that Kimberly Halterman will serve as the school division’s superintendent beginning March 22. Halterman, an Alleghany County native, has 19 years of experience working in public education in Virginia, having previously been a teacher in Botetourt County, as well as an assistant principal and principal in Bedford County. “I am honored to be entrusted with the leadership of Alleghany County Public Schools,” said Halterman. Halterman is a graduate of Alleghany High School and was valedictorian of her class.

The unanimous vote came during a Thursday morning meeting, that included the Virginia Board of Education Board of Directors, as well as school and government leaders for both Alleghany County and the city of Covington. Members of the Virginia Department of Education Board of Directors, as well as school, government leaders in Alleghany County and Covington react to the news of the resolution passing to merge the two school divisions on Jan. 28, 2021. (Virginia Department of Education)Acting Superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools Sherman Callahan released this statement following the move’s approval:We did receive approval and are excited to proceed on with consolidation. Both men represent all of Alleghany County and Covington. Both Covington leaders, as well as Alleghany County leaders, approved the merger back in September.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Alleghany High School is experiencing a season without sports due to COVID-19 concerns, but a group of students walked out of class in an effort to get the games going again. More than twenty students, including many athletes, protested in front of the high school Friday morning. The protest comes three days after the school board discussed the future of the athletic season during their board meeting. It’s nearly impossible to play winter sports at this point.”Some parents such as Kim Anderson also showed up at the high school to support the students. “Sports and everything else is being cancelled and they don’t get to go to school every day,” said Anderson, who’s son attends elementary school in Alleghany County.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Alleghany County Public Schools officials announced on Thursday that the school district will extend its virtual classes for one more week. Officials made this decision in light of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the area after the holiday season. ACPS will continue to be online for one additional week from Jan. 4 - Jan. 8, 2021. Schools will resume in-person instruction through the hybrid learning plan on Monday, Jan. 11. Click here to learn more.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. – Alleghany County Public Schools has announced an acting superintendent, effective as of Monday. The school board appointed Sherman Callahan, who had previously worked as the division acting superintendent, to the position. Callahan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Virginia Tech and was a teacher at Boiling Spring, Callaghan and Falling Spring schools for six years before he was assistant principal at Clifton Middle School for seven years. He then went on to become the principal at Sharon Elementary for 10 years before he was the director of elementary instruction in 2019. Callahan’s friendly nature, easy-going personality and his ‘team approach’ to decision making is something the school board feels is very important as we make our way through these unprecedented times,” said Jacob Wright, school board chairman.

“It’s always scary sending your children to school these days. They’re supposed to be safe and obviously they’re not,” said Angela Brown, whose 15-year-old son goes to Alleghany High School. “The thought that somebody can do this and they think they’re going to get by with it, it’s just, it’s unreal,” Brown said. School officials said a Covington High School student reported a possible threat made on social media from a student in Greenbrier County in West Virginia on Thursday. It’s a big problem nationwide.”“I don’t think you can change that, you know, social media," Brown said.

COVINGTON, Va. – Another local school system is closing for several days due to a number of sick students and staff. Covington City Public Schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday, due to “widespread” sickness, according to school officials. Custodial staff will use the two days to deep clean and disinfect the school buildings, similar to what custodial staff recently did in Bath County schools. Schools will reopen with a normal schedule on Monday. Due to widespread various sickness activity within Covington City Public Schools, schools will be closed on Thursday,... Posted by Covington High School on Wednesday, January 29, 2020Alleghany County Public Schools released the following statement:

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.A suspect is in custody and the lockdown will end soon, according to the Sheriffs Office. ORIGINAL STORYA tip received by the Alleghany County Sheriffs Office caused all Alleghany County Public Schools to be placed on lockdown Thursday. Once the sheriffs office received the tip, the school division was notified. The division then made the decision to place the schools on lockdown as a precaution. The Alleghany County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating the threat.

ROANOKE, Va.- - Questions linger after deputies say a student at the Rivermont School created what they call a hit list. It included names of students and teachers from Alleghany, Covington and Rockbridge schools. For as long as it's needed, there's extra law enforcement presence at all schools in Alleghany County and Covington as a precaution. 1 priority," said Eugene Kotulka, superintendent, Alleghany County Public Schools. The list contained the names of students and employees at various schools plus the name of an Alleghany County sheriff's deputy.