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Community members urge renaming of Magruder Elementary during York school board public comment
Summary
Multiple speakers called on the York County School Board to rename Magruder Elementary, citing research linking the name to Confederate General John B. Magruder and local segregation-era history; the issue was the focus of public comments but no board decision was recorded that night.
Several York County residents asked the school board May 19 to rename Magruder Elementary, arguing the school’s name is linked to Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder and to segregation-era local history.
Speakers addressed the board during the public participation period, presenting historical citations and personal statements and urging the board to move from study to action. The matter had been placed on the board’s agenda for discussion and public input but there was no final board decision recorded at the meeting.
Why it matters: speakers said the school name sends a message to students about what the division celebrates in public spaces and that retaining the name undermines the dignity of Black students, past and present.
Barbara Haywood, a former school board member from the Bruton District, told the board the historical record reviewed previously by staff and the board has expanded and now “reflects a true connection between General John B. Magruder and the name Magruder Elementary School.” Haywood urged the board to rename the school “Bruton Elementary.”
Danielle Francis, a District 2 resident, spoke in support of renaming and linked the request to student well‑being: “Social support and belonging are huge protective factors,” she said, and later asked, “I want to know when will McGruder Elementary School be renamed.”
Samuel Ray said the name’s Confederate association means it would not be chosen for a new school today and that retaining it is a decision the community must reconsider. “Choosing not to honor someone is not the same as forgetting them,” Ray said.
Other speakers included Jordan Lassiter, who said learning the school bore a Confederate name was ‘gut‑wrenching,’ and Yvonne Johnson and Mary Lassiter, who offered historical details and cited a 1954 Daily Press article the speakers said identified the school as named for General Magruder. A third‑grade student from Magruder, Orion, also spoke, saying he wants the school renamed to Bruton Elementary because “slavery was a bad thing.”
Board process and context: the board’s public comment rules (policy KDB/DDH) were read at the start of the comment period. Multiple speakers referenced the 1950s civil‑rights era and Virginia’s “massive resistance” to desegregation; several asked the board to accelerate a renaming decision rather than delay. The transcript shows extensive public comment but does not record a board vote on the name during this meeting.
The board did not take immediate action to rename the school at the May 19 meeting. Staff and board members have previously reviewed historical materials; speakers said new research and uncovered sources should change the board’s conclusion.
