[COMM-ORG] Let the Warren County School Board Hear From the Real Virginia

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  an interesting example of organizing around school issues.]

From:     Larry Yates <llyates at shentel.net>


Fifty Years of Virgina History Will be Put to a Vote on June 25

For many years, residents of Warren County have been trying to get the 
former Warren County High School, closed to resist integration in 1959, 
named after James Wilson Kilby, the local NAACP leader. Since January 
2006, the local chapter of VOP has supported this effort. On June 25th, 
the Warren County School Board plans to decide this issue once and for all.

James Wilson Kilby was the President of the Warren County NAACP Branch, 
and at personal risk he led efforts to get his children and other 
African-American children to attend high school in their own county, 
instead of being bussed hours away. Supported by an NAACP legal team 
that included legendary Virginia attorney Oliver W. Hill and current 
Virginia State Senator Henry Marsh, the local NAACP won their case, but 
not before the Commonwealth of Virginia had closed the school. Of 
course, Virginia's policy of massive resistance to civil rights was 
rejected by the courts, and African-American students entered the high 
school in February of 1959.

Mr. Kilby went on to be involved in bringing housing and weatherization 
programs to the community, working closely with people of all races.

2009: Increasing Community Activism Sends a Message

This year, two major events in Warren County have brought out the 
community to commemorate the 50th anniversary of integrating the 
school.  In February, 250 people gathered at the new Skyline High School 
to hear speakers and three choirs.  In the same week, schoolchildren who 
were studying the civil rights era participated in a commemorative event 
at the old high school, listening raptly to Rev. James Kilby, son of Mr. 
Kilby, tell his story of climbing up the hill while angry whites 
screamed at the African-American students. (Both events, as well as a 
rally in 2007, were organized by the Historical Educational Movement, a 
local group led by Rev. Kilby.)

Following these events, the Town Council of Front Royal, the major town 
in Warren County, voted unanimously to recommend naming the former high 
school after Mr. Kilby.

On June 11th, there was a hearing by the School Board on the issue. All 
18 speakers, who included 2009 high school grads and elected officials, 
spoke in favor of naming the school for Mr. Kilby.

"Alternative" Candidate Emerges

For several years, the Warren County School Board and opponents of 
naming the school for Mr. Kilby took the position that the school should 
not be named after a person who had died less than ten years ago. (Mr. 
Kilby died in 2003.) As community support grew for the Historical 
Educational Movement, and the ten year mark got closer suddenly another 
name for the former high school emerged -- that of a former principal, 
Quincy Damon Gasque. Letters to the editor have been printed supporting 
this choice, and school board members claim that they are getting many 
emails supporting this alternative. However, there were no speakers 
supporting this alternative at the June 11th hearing.

What Can You Do?

Whether or not you live in Warren County, we are asking you to contact 
the School Board and ask them to name the former Warren County High 
School after James Wilson Kilby. The story of this high school is not 
just a Warren County story; it matters to all Virginians. The closing of 
the school was ordered by the Commonwealth of Virginia, as part of the 
massive resistance policy of the state. The Warren County School Board 
needs to know that they are being held accountable.

You can go to the School Board website to comment, or you can just send 
an email to schoolname at wcps.k12.va.us to share your opinion.

Background Information

You can see three letters to the editor here. One of them supports Mr. 
Gasque, and the other two Mr. Kilby.

Also, here's a sample letter. Please DON'T just copy it and send it -- 
modify it to fit your individual opinions and situation. Or write your 
own letter, which can be only a few sentences long.

Dear Warren County School Board:
 
I am writing to ask the Warren County School Board to name the proposed 
middle school (historic former high school) on Luray Avenue "James 
Wilson Kilby Middle School."  James Wilson Kilby was a great leader who 
sought equal educational opportunities for all children in Warren County 
and was instrumental in achieving the integration of the Warren County 
school system.  This school building was once the only high school in 
Warren County and served only white children.  Mr. Kilby wanted his 
children to attend this school and demonstrated through his suit, Betty 
Kilby, et al., vs. the Warren County Board of Education, that the U.S. 
Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education required this public 
school to be open to all children regardless of their race.  Please 
honor this significant figure in Warren County educational history by 
naming the proposed middle school "James Wilson Kilby Middle School."
 
Sincerely,
 
(Your name)

If you would like to be help out in this issue, contact Larry Yates on 
the VOP staff right away.

Larry Yates
VOP Valley Organizer
P.O. Box 245
Maurertown VA 22644
540 436 3432
llyates at shentel.net
www.virginia-organizing.org