Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Naming topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board rejects renaming Magruder Elementary after heated public comment
Summary
After hours of public testimony — much of it urging a name change — the York County School Board failed to approve a motion to rename Magruder Elementary, with the motion losing 1-3.
The York County School Board on Sept. 22 voted down a request to rename Magruder Elementary School after public comment from residents and civil-rights advocates calling for the change.
The motion to approve the renaming was made by Mr. Richardson and seconded by Mr. Schaffer; the board recorded one yes vote (Mr. Schaffer) and three no votes (Mr. Richardson, Mr. Pajevic and Chair Mrs. Goodwin), and the motion failed 1-3.
Why it matters: Multiple residents and representatives urged the board to remove a Confederate-associated name from an elementary school, arguing the name harms Black students and misrepresents local history. Opponents and some board members raised cost and historical-origin questions and cited prior public-survey results that showed majority opposition to renaming.
What residents said: Speakers at the meeting included Sam Ray, co-chair of the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP Education Committee, who argued the name causes harm to Black children and cited a recent federal ruling referenced in public comments that found schools named for Confederate generals could stigmatize students. “A name is not neutral. A name sends a message,” Ray said. Pam Puccio, who noted the meeting fell during Rosh Hashanah, told the board, “Discrimination is alive and well in York County,” and urged action to change the name.
Several speakers criticized the survey and cost estimates the division provided. Sam Ray said a $25,000 line item in the division’s cost estimate was for planned regular maintenance rather than an added cost tied to renaming. Jordan Lassiter and others contended local historical records show the school was named to honor a Confederate general rather than a predominantly Black community, and urged transparency about the origin of the name.
Board action and votes: The motion to rename was presented and then put to a roll call. The minutes record Mr. Schaffer voting yes; Mr. Richardson, Mr. Pajevic and Mrs. Goodwin voting no. The motion failed 1-3. No substitute motion or subsequent action to continue study or refer the matter was recorded during the meeting.
Context and next steps: Public testimony on the name spanned multiple speakers citing local history, the effect of naming on students, and the accuracy of the division’s survey and cost figures. Several speakers — including representatives of the NAACP and longtime local residents — requested the board proceed with a renaming despite opposition reflected in the public survey. The board did not approve the renaming and made no public timetable for further study or additional action at the Sept. 22 meeting.
Ending: The discussion drew a large public turnout and extensive testimony; with the motion defeated, the school will remain Magruder Elementary until the board takes further action.
