YORK COUNTY — The York County School Board voted 3-1 to keep the name of Magruder Elementary School at its Sept. 22 meeting, despite opposition from some who say it was named for a Confederate general.
The name change has been an ongoing issue within the community over the past six years.
Some community members who have researched the name of the school have found evidence it was named for Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder, while others have said the school is named for the community of Magruder, which was settled by African Americans after the Civil War.
Earlier this year, Victor Shandor, York County School Division Superintendent, directed two school division leaders to conduct their own research. That study was discussed at a May meeting and presented no clear answer on who or what the school is named after.
Over the summer, a survey went out to members of the York County School community. According to an update at a previous meeting, 58% of York County residents were against changing the name. However, many came out to Monday night’s meeting to speak in favor of changing the name of the school.
“York County’s mission is clear, to ensure every student is valued, supported, and challenged through learning experiences which prepare them for a successful future. But how do we say every student valued when we ask black children to attend a school named after a confederate general? How can we say that they are supported when their school identity is tied to a legacy of oppression? A name is not neutral, a name sends a message and right now that message is that comfort of the majority matters more than the dignity of students of color,” one speaker said.
The district also currently has a policy that no school in the county shall be named after a person, living or deceased.
Before the vote took place, District 1 Board Member Mark Shafer addressed the issue.
“Magruder is in my district, and this came up almost six years ago, and at the time, I got in contact with Barbara Haywood, who had been here for 30 years in my seat. I said, ‘Barbara, I know as outspoken as you are, you wouldn’t let this slide if it was named for James Bankhead Magruder,’ and she said, ‘That’s right Mark, I wouldn’t, but in York County, we name it for areas.’
“She went on to tell me about the Village of Magruder and how it was named for a place, not a person. Since then, there have been things that have come up, resurfaced articles from 1951 and 1954 from the Daily Press, where it was clearly stated that it was named for Gen. Magruder. With that history going through it, it has changed from a place to a person, and we don’t name schools for people in York County,” Shafer continued.
The sole vote in favor of changing the name came from Shafer, who is the representative for the upper end of York County, where Magruder Elementary School sits.
Board Chair Kim Goodwin, District 2 Representative Zoran Pajevic, and District 4 Representative James Richardson voted against changing the name.
District 5 Representative Lynda Fairman was not present for the meeting.
To view the meeting in its entirety, visit the YCSD YouTube page.