WILLIAMSBURG — At the upcoming Feb. 18 Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) school board meeting, the board will be discussing the potential school renaming process for James Blair Middle School (JBMS).
The current agenda explains that the board may rename a school or school facility upon a determination that it is appropriate to do so, and will solicit and accept input from the public regarding the name of the school.
A presentation was given during the Feb. 4 work session to discuss the renaming policy (policy FFA) and the process of what would go into changing a school’s name.
Per Policy FFA School Names — “it is the responsibility of the Williamsburg-James City County School Board to determine the name of schools and school facilities in the division. The board will solicit and accept input from the public regarding the names of schools and school facilities but reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the name of any school or school facility” — a committee would be created to make recommendations to the board on the naming of the school.
The process for creating a committee was proposed by the administration during the Feb. 4 discussion, and will be considered for approval by the board on Feb. 18.
The suggested committee composition would include current JBMS students, staff, parents/guardians, at least one JBMS administrator, residents of JBMS attendance zone, one WJCC school board member and an Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership.
Daniel Keever, as acting school superintendent, would recommend the board approve the proposed process (committee composition, role, and timeline) to consider renaming James Blair Middle School as presented.
According to the school board’s timeline the committee members will be chosen and finalized in early March after which the committee will meet several times before presenting its initial findings at the April 1 meeting.
Final school board action, as necessary, regarding name change approval would take place during the May 20 meeting.
If renaming is approved, JBMS could be under a new name by August.
Several citizens have brought this matter up int the past, including at the Oct. 15 school board meeting.
“It’s really a shame that we have to even try to convince the community and members of James City County School Board that this name needs to be changed, that should be understood,” said Mary Lassiter. “They changed Raulsburg and he was nowhere near what James Blair was. Slavery is one of the worst things that I can think of and we shouldn’t honor people who have been enslavers.”
The proposal also discloses that renaming the school was not in the school year budget and estimates a $92,324.50 one-time cost to implement a new name.
Regarding the James Blair name change, Ruth Larson, James City County (JCC) Board of Supervisors (BoS) member stated during its Feb. 11 meeting, “One, it is in the city (Williamsburg) so, I don’t know how the cost would play. I realize funding does come from the city and county but, it is a school board decision. Not one that is made here. However, it bothers me that it was hurting someone’s feelings. I have never been enslaved in my life, nor do I know of a relative that had, I don’t know.”
“But I don’t think we need to be flippant with anything that has to do with this. This is not a decision that is going to be made at this dais,” she continued. “This is going to be made by the school board but, I think we have to be empathetic to those coming forward asking for that. Again, that decision will not be made (at JCC BoS).”
The school board meeting will be on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at James Blair Middle School, 101 Longhill Road, York Terrace, Williamsburg, in the gymnasium. For more information, please visit the official website.
