Community split at WJCC meeting over renaming James Blair Middle School
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Summary
Members of the public both urged the school board to remove James Blair’s name from a middle school because of his ties to slavery and urged officials to preserve the name and spend funds on classroom needs. Speakers cited cost estimates and the need to prioritize reading and teacher support; no formal board action was taken at the meeting.
Residents and community advocates used the school board’s public comment period to press opposing views on whether James Blair Middle School should be renamed.
Some speakers, including Jackie Bridgeforth Williams, executive director of The Village Initiative, urged the board to remove the name because Blair enslaved people and other community landmarks honor that legacy. “If [Martin Luther King Jr.] cannot be on our schools, then a slaver should not be on our schools,” Bridgeforth Williams said.
Others said renaming is the wrong priority while test scores and classroom supports lag. “At a time when taxation is a serious issue, we’re looking at a school board that’s getting ready to throw tax money away,” said Robert Mandrioli, a resident, who asked how renaming would directly help special education or bilingual programs. Several speakers cited estimated renaming costs ranging from roughly $100,000 to $180,000 and questioned whether the money would better serve students.
“Respect the survey and not ignore it,” said Mike Joseph, a James City County resident, referencing a district questionnaire he said opposed renaming. At the same time, other speakers said changing a school name does not erase history and that students should not attend a school named for an enslaver.
Board members did not take a vote or direct immediate action on the renaming at Monday’s meeting. The board’s announcements noted that the James Blair Middle School renaming consideration committee is scheduled to meet April 16, a step in the division’s review process.
Speakers who addressed the renaming question included former school staff, long-time residents and parents. Testimony covered community history, competing priorities for limited funds, and differing views on how to remember the past in public schools. Several speakers asked for broader transparency and for the board to weigh educational outcomes, not only symbolic changes.
