New Name for JEB Stuart HS - 9/16 Community Vote

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NAACP should pay

Descendants of the racist school board members should pay. As should all of the "keepers" who want it for "history".

Another statement of myth. Didn't happen. Even Mr. Moon said so.

[Anonymous]

And the last time I checked, the NAACP did not drive the car into the crowd in Charlottesville. One of the keepers did. That was an act of domestic terrorism.

Wow. You really are out of line on this one. You are accusing the "keepers" --56% of the Stuart community who responded to the initial survey--as being murderers and racists. Pitiful.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the guy who murdered that young woman in Charlottesville. And, this is what is wrong. Name calling.

[Anonymous]

But why were the white supremacist groups in Charlottesville in the first place? Because Charlottesville recently change the name of "Lee" park to Emancipation Park... Why not Charlottesville Park, or a name of a local community leader, or notable former Charlottesville resident? Why Emancipation Park?

Do you actually believe for one second that the local Charlottesville community people "chose" the name Emancipation Park??? No they did not, the name was forced upon them just like what is happening now in the "Stuart" community. This is a little known fact that was hardly publicized, Charlottesville was not only about the statue removal.

I do NOT support ANY of the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, by any group. And what that idiot did with running the car into people was horrendous, I hope he get's life in prison or worse for what he did. But this is what this issue is coming to.

ALL those groups were in Charlottesville because of the NAACP agenda, to rewrite history and erase the truth.

Slavery is an unfortunate chapter in American history, but it did happen, we can't ignore it, we must learn from it.

For the "actual" Stuart community members that voted to change the name, I have no quarrel with them, this is America, they are allowed to express their views and vote in any way that they see fit.

But for the NAACP and people that are trying to force their will upon communities all over America, this has to stop, it is not "American".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And the last time I checked, the NAACP did not drive the car into the crowd in Charlottesville. One of the keepers did. That was an act of domestic terrorism.

Wow. You really are out of line on this one. You are accusing the "keepers" --56% of the Stuart community who responded to the initial survey--as being murderers and racists. Pitiful.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the guy who murdered that young woman in Charlottesville. And, this is what is wrong. Name calling.

Keepers meaning the ones who wanted to keep the statue. The pp was blaming the NAACP .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why were the white supremacist groups in Charlottesville in the first place? Because Charlottesville recently change the name of "Lee" park to Emancipation Park... Why not Charlottesville Park, or a name of a local community leader, or notable former Charlottesville resident? Why Emancipation Park?

Do you actually believe for one second that the local Charlottesville community people "chose" the name Emancipation Park??? No they did not, the name was forced upon them just like what is happening now in the "Stuart" community. This is a little known fact that was hardly publicized, Charlottesville was not only about the statue removal.

I do NOT support ANY of the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, by any group. And what that idiot did with running the car into people was horrendous, I hope he get's life in prison or worse for what he did. But this is what this issue is coming to.

ALL those groups were in Charlottesville because of the NAACP agenda, to rewrite history and erase the truth.

Slavery is an unfortunate chapter in American history, but it did happen, we can't ignore it, we must learn from it.

For the "actual" Stuart community members that voted to change the name, I have no quarrel with them, this is America, they are allowed to express their views and vote in any way that they see fit.

But for the NAACP and people that are trying to force their will upon communities all over America, this has to stop, it is not "American".

I find this narrative about the NAACP trying to force its "will" upon innocent communities "all over America" to be profoundly unsettling and racist, no matter how politely you try and sugar coat it.

The NAACP has had a presence in Northern Virginia for a long time, and for good reason, given the discrimination that blacks have faced in Virginia. Read about the history of E. B. Henderson and Tinner Hill, and perhaps you'd change your tune. Or maybe not, but at least it would demolish your bullshit about the NAACP being "outsiders" in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why were the white supremacist groups in Charlottesville in the first place? Because Charlottesville recently change the name of "Lee" park to Emancipation Park... Why not Charlottesville Park, or a name of a local community leader, or notable former Charlottesville resident? Why Emancipation Park?

Do you actually believe for one second that the local Charlottesville community people "chose" the name Emancipation Park??? No they did not, the name was forced upon them just like what is happening now in the "Stuart" community. This is a little known fact that was hardly publicized, Charlottesville was not only about the statue removal.

I do NOT support ANY of the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, by any group. And what that idiot did with running the car into people was horrendous, I hope he get's life in prison or worse for what he did. But this is what this issue is coming to.

ALL those groups were in Charlottesville because of the NAACP agenda, to rewrite history and erase the truth.

Slavery is an unfortunate chapter in American history, but it did happen, we can't ignore it, we must learn from it.

For the "actual" Stuart community members that voted to change the name, I have no quarrel with them, this is America, they are allowed to express their views and vote in any way that they see fit.

But for the NAACP and people that are trying to force their will upon communities all over America, this has to stop, it is not "American".

If only people who live in the pyramid can vote, how is the NAACP forcing people to change the name? Your quarrel is actually with the Stuart community who voted for change because they were the ones who voted for named other than Stuart on Saturday. Allowing only Stuart community members to vote is what ensures we don't have outsiders dictating what we do. The vast majority of Stuart members who voted on Saturday did not want Stuart. I'm sure you'll claim the voting was rigged, but when I went they matched my address with my drivers license. I'm pretty sure they didn't just single me out. You might be unhappy with the NAACP, but in this case they aren't responsible for Saturday's vote, community members who took the time to exercise their civic duty are. I and many of my neighbors were a part of that group. The people passing out fliers were parents of kid my kids are in school with. I doubt they are all closet NAAP operatives, especially since many of them were white.

[Anonymous]

If only people who live in the pyramid can vote, how is the NAACP forcing people to change the name? Your quarrel is actually with the Stuart community who voted for change because they were the ones who voted for named other than Stuart on Saturday. Allowing only Stuart community members to vote is what ensures we don't have outsiders dictating what we do. The vast majority of Stuart members who voted on Saturday did not want Stuart. I'm sure you'll claim the voting was rigged, but when I went they matched my address with my drivers license. I'm pretty sure they didn't just single me out. You might be unhappy with the NAACP, but in this case they aren't responsible for Saturday's vote, community members who took the time to exercise their civic duty are. I and many of my neighbors were a part of that group. The people passing out fliers were parents of kid my kids are in school with. I doubt they are all closet NAAP operatives, especially since many of them were white.

Once more, (and I am not the PP posting about the NAACP), the first survey of Stuart community supported keeping the name.

Evans and Hynes did not like that result. So, they formed a committee that was supposed to be made up of Stuart community members. Instead, they invited people from outside the community--and, even outside of Fairfax County--to be included.

The committee split in half and there were no acceptable results (at least to my mind). No consensus was reached. One group demonized the other.

Then, the SB voted to change the name and suggested that "in the spirit of compromise" and some other words that Stuart be considered.

Stuart received the most votes.

It is clear from the FOIA'd emails that Evans and Hynes were in favor of changing the name from the beginning. No question of that.
Staff has indicated that quit a bit of money could be saved if "Stuart" is selected over other names.

Braband should recommend "Stuart" and the SB should approve it. To do anything else would be hypocritical.

However, in light of the way this SB operates, I suspect that the Board will choose a geographic name. It will cost Fairfax County taxpayers close to one million dollars and opens the can of worms that we fear. Millions will be spent on this. Sad.
The students could use so much more than a name change. Things that could help them succeed. This will do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If only people who live in the pyramid can vote, how is the NAACP forcing people to change the name? Your quarrel is actually with the Stuart community who voted for change because they were the ones who voted for named other than Stuart on Saturday. Allowing only Stuart community members to vote is what ensures we don't have outsiders dictating what we do. The vast majority of Stuart members who voted on Saturday did not want Stuart. I'm sure you'll claim the voting was rigged, but when I went they matched my address with my drivers license. I'm pretty sure they didn't just single me out. You might be unhappy with the NAACP, but in this case they aren't responsible for Saturday's vote, community members who took the time to exercise their civic duty are. I and many of my neighbors were a part of that group. The people passing out fliers were parents of kid my kids are in school with. I doubt they are all closet NAAP operatives, especially since many of them were white.

Once more, (and I am not the PP posting about the NAACP), the first survey of Stuart community supported keeping the name.

Evans and Hynes did not like that result. So, they formed a committee that was supposed to be made up of Stuart community members. Instead, they invited people from outside the community--and, even outside of Fairfax County--to be included.

The committee split in half and there were no acceptable results (at least to my mind). No consensus was reached. One group demonized the other.

Then, the SB voted to change the name and suggested that "in the spirit of compromise" and some other words that Stuart be considered.

Stuart received the most votes.

It is clear from the FOIA'd emails that Evans and Hynes were in favor of changing the name from the beginning. No question of that.
Staff has indicated that quit a bit of money could be saved if "Stuart" is selected over other names.

Braband should recommend "Stuart" and the SB should approve it. To do anything else would be hypocritical.

However, in light of the way this SB operates, I suspect that the Board will choose a geographic name. It will cost Fairfax County taxpayers close to one million dollars and opens the can of worms that we fear. Millions will be spent on this. Sad.
The students could use so much more than a name change. Things that could help them succeed. This will do nothing.

First, we all know that none of that million dollars would go to Stuart even if the name is not changed. This pyramid is not a priority. Look at how long it took for them to addressed to gross overcrowding at Bailey's. So the whole argument about the children could use so much more is misplaced because even if the name change process were stopped today, none of the money that may have been allocated to the name change would be specifically allocated to improving Stuart. Also, if you can't see that an 18 percent vote for the current name shows that the community members who took the time to vote don't want to keep Stuart, then you're refusing to use any type of critical analysis when looking at the votes. You also are choosing to ignore the fact that the rules clearly say the vote is just to provide information to the board in making its decision, and is in no way binding. The board hopefully will actually take time to consider all factors, and make an informed decision.

[Anonymous]

First, we all know that none of that million dollars would go to Stuart even if the name is not changed. This pyramid is not a priority. Look at how long it took for them to addressed to gross overcrowding at Bailey's. So the whole argument about the children could use so much more is misplaced because even if the name change process were stopped today, none of the money that may have been allocated to the name change would be specifically allocated to improving Stuart. Also, if you can't see that an 18 percent vote for the current name shows that the community members who took the time to vote don't want to keep Stuart, then you're refusing to use any type of critical analysis when looking at the votes. You also are choosing to ignore the fact that the rules clearly say the vote is just to provide information to the board in making its decision, and is in no way binding. The board hopefully will actually take time to consider all factors, and make an informed decision

Yes. Very sad that Stuart's School Board representative was more concerned about helping her political base than helping resolve real issues at the school. I can't remember if she was the rep during the Bailey's problem.
If our SB would spend more time on the nitty gritty problems in our school than on social issues, we would likely have a better run system.

As for the rest of your analysis, please recall that the first surveys indicated that there was a strong desire to keep the name. Then, Evans, et.al, has spent two years trying to change that.
However, in the motion to change the name a message was sent that "Stuart" would be the best choice. "Stuart" received the most votes--and, yes, it did not get a majority. However, the savings to the budget is significant. And, since the Board voted to change the name--contrary to the wishes of most in the community--a lot of people may have figured there was no point in voting. Their earlier votes were ignored. Please remember that. They voted to keep the name--and the response was to form a "committee" and invite many outsiders of the community to be on that committee.

The fix was in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If only people who live in the pyramid can vote, how is the NAACP forcing people to change the name? Your quarrel is actually with the Stuart community who voted for change because they were the ones who voted for named other than Stuart on Saturday. Allowing only Stuart community members to vote is what ensures we don't have outsiders dictating what we do. The vast majority of Stuart members who voted on Saturday did not want Stuart. I'm sure you'll claim the voting was rigged, but when I went they matched my address with my drivers license. I'm pretty sure they didn't just single me out. You might be unhappy with the NAACP, but in this case they aren't responsible for Saturday's vote, community members who took the time to exercise their civic duty are. I and many of my neighbors were a part of that group. The people passing out fliers were parents of kid my kids are in school with. I doubt they are all closet NAAP operatives, especially since many of them were white.

Once more, (and I am not the PP posting about the NAACP), the first survey of Stuart community supported keeping the name.

Evans and Hynes did not like that result. So, they formed a committee that was supposed to be made up of Stuart community members. Instead, they invited people from outside the community--and, even outside of Fairfax County--to be included.

The committee split in half and there were no acceptable results (at least to my mind). No consensus was reached. One group demonized the other.

Then, the SB voted to change the name and suggested that "in the spirit of compromise" and some other words that Stuart be considered.

Stuart received the most votes.

It is clear from the FOIA'd emails that Evans and Hynes were in favor of changing the name from the beginning. No question of that.
Staff has indicated that quit a bit of money could be saved if "Stuart" is selected over other names.

Braband should recommend "Stuart" and the SB should approve it. To do anything else would be hypocritical.

However, in light of the way this SB operates, I suspect that the Board will choose a geographic name. It will cost Fairfax County taxpayers close to one million dollars and opens the can of worms that we fear. Millions will be spent on this. Sad.
The students could use so much more than a name change. Things that could help them succeed. This will do nothing.

I don't agree with this characterization.

I'd say the initial surveys were intended to suss out whether there were a significant number of people in the Stuart pyramid who favored the change. There were, so they explored it further. The surveys were never intended as an up or down vote on whether the name should be changed, because at the end of the day the School Board is tasked with looking after all students, not just the majority who might favor retaining the status quo.

The working group was always intended to include people in addition to those who currently reside within the Stuart boundaries. It did, and that became one of the ways in which the Keepers on the working group tried to throw sand in the gears and keep the committee from doing anything. The Keeper members on the sub-group charged with identifying pros and cons of a name change took forever to share their reasons for keeping the name. The sub-group charged with assessing the extent of community support and engaging in further outreach stalled because some members claimed that subcommittee had no authority to engage in further outreach, until Steve Lockard expressly confirmed it did. The sub-group charged with identifying ways to offset the costs of a name change bogged down because the Keepers on that sub-group primarily wanted to argue about whether private funding could cover all the costs.

Even so, the other members of the working group managed to craft persuasive reports, and they - along with the scores of community members who showed up at School Board meetings to testify in favor of a change - ultimately persuaded the School Board to move forward.

To appease one single School Board member, who ultimately abstained from the July 27th vote, language was included in the motion directing the change from "JEB Stuart" that allowed for the possibility that "Stuart HS," without the initials, might be an acceptable "compromise" name. The results of last week's voting show that most community members who took the time to vote (and one simply can't equate the failure to vote to support for the current name) prefer a name other than "Stuart HS."

I believe that Scott Brabrand wants to resolve this ongoing debate soon, and fully recognizes that the name "Stuart HS" will not unite the community and will only lead to more School Board deliberations (remember that, since the prior vote, Karen Keys-Gammara, who stated unequivocally that she opposes the "Stuart HS" name, was elected to the Board). He's also smart enough to realize that, the sooner and more decisively FCPS acts, the more quickly opposition to a new name will dissipate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

First, we all know that none of that million dollars would go to Stuart even if the name is not changed. This pyramid is not a priority. Look at how long it took for them to addressed to gross overcrowding at Bailey's. So the whole argument about the children could use so much more is misplaced because even if the name change process were stopped today, none of the money that may have been allocated to the name change would be specifically allocated to improving Stuart. Also, if you can't see that an 18 percent vote for the current name shows that the community members who took the time to vote don't want to keep Stuart, then you're refusing to use any type of critical analysis when looking at the votes. You also are choosing to ignore the fact that the rules clearly say the vote is just to provide information to the board in making its decision, and is in no way binding. The board hopefully will actually take time to consider all factors, and make an informed decision

Yes. Very sad that Stuart's School Board representative was more concerned about helping her political base than helping resolve real issues at the school. I can't remember if she was the rep during the Bailey's problem.
If our SB would spend more time on the nitty gritty problems in our school than on social issues, we would likely have a better run system.

As for the rest of your analysis, please recall that the first surveys indicated that there was a strong desire to keep the name. Then, Evans, et.al, has spent two years trying to change that.
However, in the motion to change the name a message was sent that "Stuart" would be the best choice. "Stuart" received the most votes--and, yes, it did not get a majority. However, the savings to the budget is significant. And, since the Board voted to change the name--contrary to the wishes of most in the community--a lot of people may have figured there was no point in voting. Their earlier votes were ignored. Please remember that. They voted to keep the name--and the response was to form a "committee" and invite many outsiders of the community to be on that committee.

The fix was in.

Your words are telling. It's good that the "fix" is in. Otherwise, we'd be stuck with an ill-advised name honoring a Confederate general at one of the county's most diverse schools for many more years.

[Anonymous]

To appease one single School Board member, who ultimately abstained from the July 27th vote, language was included in the motion directing the change from "JEB Stuart" that allowed for the possibility that "Stuart HS," without the initials, might be an acceptable "compromise" name. The results of last week's voting show that most community members who took the time to vote (and one simply can't equate the failure to vote to support for the current name) prefer a name other than "Stuart HS."

I believe that Scott Brabrand wants to resolve this ongoing debate soon, and fully recognizes that the name "Stuart HS" will not unite the community and will only lead to more School Board deliberations (remember that, since the prior vote, Karen Keys-Gammara, who stated unequivocally that she opposes the "Stuart HS" name, was elected to the Board). He's also smart enough to realize that, the sooner and more decisively FCPS acts, the more quickly opposition to a new name will dissipate.

To appease one school board member? No. They understood the majority of the community was against it. They also understood that the taxpayers were upset. And, they understood that Hynes and Evans had made a mess, but did not want to vote against them. Plus, they did not want to be called racist--as every speaker in favor of the change had called everyone who wanted to keep the name.

Is any of this ideal? No. But, Evans and Hynes only had their own agenda on this issue from the very beginning. This was all about getting the community to change the name--not doing what the community wished. Just because you disagree does not mean that most of the community did not wish to keep the name. You can demean the first survey, but it was reflective of the community. More reflective than the committees or the vote on Saturday. Remember, the "keepers" had already lost.

As far as Karen Keys-Gamarra, she did when a strong percentage of an extremely low voter turnout--and received large sums of money from political organizations who support the name change. Much larger than normal for a SB election.

I hope Braband shows some common sense and fiscal responsibility. This actually was quite cowardly of the School Board to put this decision on him.

[Anonymous]

As far as Karen Keys-Gamarra, she did when a strong percentage of an extremely low voter turnout--and received large sums of money from political organizations who support the name change. Much larger than normal for a SB election.

PP here. win

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why were the white supremacist groups in Charlottesville in the first place? Because Charlottesville recently change the name of "Lee" park to Emancipation Park... Why not Charlottesville Park, or a name of a local community leader, or notable former Charlottesville resident? Why Emancipation Park?

Do you actually believe for one second that the local Charlottesville community people "chose" the name Emancipation Park??? No they did not, the name was forced upon them just like what is happening now in the "Stuart" community. This is a little known fact that was hardly publicized, Charlottesville was not only about the statue removal.

I do NOT support ANY of the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, by any group. And what that idiot did with running the car into people was horrendous, I hope he get's life in prison or worse for what he did. But this is what this issue is coming to.

ALL those groups were in Charlottesville because of the NAACP agenda, to rewrite history and erase the truth.

Slavery is an unfortunate chapter in American history, but it did happen, we can't ignore it, we must learn from it.

For the "actual" Stuart community members that voted to change the name, I have no quarrel with them, this is America, they are allowed to express their views and vote in any way that they see fit.

But for the NAACP and people that are trying to force their will upon communities all over America, this has to stop, it is not "American".

NP to this thread, but I have to wonder why anyone would be bothered by the name "Emancipation Park?" It seems to me that Emancipation is something that should be celebrated, certainly more than celebrating an individual who fought against it, no? Why is this even controversial, or more controversial than simply renaming the park to something other than Lee?

[Anonymous]

Also, I'm not a native Virginian, but I live here now and likely will for the remainder of my life, and my children were born and will be raised here. I don't like all this revisionist history, where Confederates get to be presented as men worthy of honor. They were not and are not. They were traitors to our nation, and they LOST. The winners get to write history, not the losers. That's how it goes. Maybe we should sue the daughters and sons of the confederacy to remove these names and statues that they forced upon us.