The Richmond City School Board voted Dec. 2 to rename Armstrong High School to Armstrong‑Kennedy High School and to install a John F. Kennedy historic marker and display cases honoring both institutions. The motion, introduced by Trustee Burke and seconded by Trustee Harris Mohammad, included language waiving School Board policy 6-2.9 governing facility naming and set an effective date of July 2027.

Supporters at the meeting, including alumni and community members who attended public comment, said the change would honor both Armstrong’s legacy and John F. Kennedy’s contribution of the building at 2300 Cool Lane. Trustee Burke said the proposal was an opportunity for “inclusiveness” and a way to “honor both John F. Kennedy and Armstrong.” Trustee Jafari and others described long-standing community advocacy for recognition and called the vote a step toward healing.

Several trustees raised procedural concerns about whether the Board had followed the letter of the district naming policy. Vice Chair Percival and other trustees asked legal staff to clarify policy requirements, citing policy 6-2.9’s public hearing and notice provisions. Board legal counsel advised that the Board has discretion either to require strict adherence to policy or to waive procedural formalities by vote; trustees amended the motion to explicitly waive any formalities they determined had not been followed.

Board members also discussed cost implications. Superintendent counsel and Trustee Kamras cited an earlier estimate of about $100,000 to cover marquee updates, uniforms, signage and a historic marker, but the Board did not adopt a specific funding package during the meeting.

After debate, the Board rescinded an initial motion and then restated it with the waiver language; the final motion passed on a recorded roll call with an affirmative majority of trustees. The Board directed administration to document the process and to proceed with implementation consistent with the motion.

The decision followed multiple public commenters — including alumni who asked that Kennedy’s name be restored on the building and community groups urging recognition of both histories — and months of community meetings and surveys described during Board discussion. The Board’s action included an explicit waiver of policy 6-2.9 to permit the renaming to proceed without repeating every step of the standard naming process.

Next steps include staff documentation of the process, planning for signage and displays, and developing a timeline and budget for the renaming’s implementation; trustees said they would follow up with additional details and public communications.