YORK COUNTY — York County citizens have been asking the York County School Board to look at changing the name of the Division’s Magruder Elementary School for over four years and, according to school officials, a decision is coming soon.
Community members who have been researching the school and its namesake presented information that the school was named for Confederate General John B. Magruder. Magruder played a large part in defending York County against the Union Army’s Peninsula Campaign.
During the school board meeting on Feb. 24, members of the community shared their thoughts on the potential name change.
“There is valid documentation and known history on why Magruder needs to be renamed. The current name is in violation of policy against naming schools after people and most importantly, our children, the students, know the history. They know why the name change is so very important. Please take action to rename Magruder Elementary School to Bruton Elementary School. It’s hope that our students deserve,” one speaker said.
“Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. To have any school named in honor of a traitor to the United States of America, who defended the institution of slavery, is a disgrace and a slap in the face to all of us. It’s time to rename Magruder to Bruton Elementary,” said another.
Others in the community have argued in the past that the school is named for the community of Magruder, which was settled by African Americans after the Civil War.
Board Vice Chair James Richardson addressed the issue during his comment period at the meeting, “They are verifying some of the research on that and the cost involved and what’s that going to be. It’ll probably be minimal but you have to think this all the way through. What I’d like to see is us discuss it at one of our upcoming work sessions.”
Research on the school is being conducted by school officials and Victor Shandor, Superintendent of York County Schools, promised the community that a report on findings will be available soon.
“Dr. Jim Carroll and Dr. Aaron Butler have spent a great deal of time researching. They have gone to the Swem Library at William & Mary, they have done a lot of research, they have talked to former students and a number of other researchers up in the Williamsburg area,” Shandor said. “We’ll give you all the information that you need to guide the next steps of that decision. We’re working on it, it’s just not going to happen overnight.”
To watch the meeting in full, visit the YCSD YouTube page.