‘It’s about the history, it’s about the legacy’: Richmond City School Board discusses renaming Armstrong High School

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond City School Board discussed renaming Armstrong High School during Monday's meeting, with one alumnus saying this is about giving equal opportunity after the demise of Armstrong-Kennedy High School two decades prior.

On Monday, July 7, Dennis Mallory, an alumnus of Kennedy High School, requested that the Richmond School Board rename Armstrong High School to Armstrong-Kennedy High School, as it was established in 1980, with additional changes to the colors and mascot.

This comes after the change that left drastic changes on the school back in 2004.

"It's about the history, it's about the legacy," he said. "It's about community as a whole."

Cheryl Burke, the school board member representing the seventh district, said she's looking for a "win-win situation" and emphasized the other struggles at the school, including water pipe bursts and a lack of infrastructure changes at the track.

She recalled trophies and awards being placed in trash cans after the removal of Kennedy at the time, calling it one of the saddest days in city history.

"I don't want to see what happened to our current students at Armstrong -- what happened to you all at Kennedy," Burke said. "Kennedy was birthed from Armstrong because Armstrong was overcrowded."

In Mallory's request, he emphasized three benefits to the students and faculty, which are as follows:

• Increased participation and support from Kennedy, Armstrong-Kennedy and Armstrong alumni at sporting and other events.
• Heighten awareness of 3 separate alumni representing 3 different schools coming together as one toward a common goal that will benefit the students.
• Increased donations towards scholarship fund due to the alumni taking an interest in the renaming of the school.

"Sure, make it Armstrong-Kennedy, but it doesn't mean your history's going to be told," she added. "What happened during that era, with the great ballplayers and the great teachers."

However, she said that the proposal Mallory and other alumni shared on Monday night was reportedly different than what they shared at the last board meeting.

(Photo: Richmond Public Schools)

Malloy said that the JFKHS Alumni & Friends Scholarship Committee will donate to the city school board to help fund the transition process.

"We ask that the school board give JFK High School a fair shake, and alumni strongly feel that it [doesn't] deserve the unfortunate demise of it back in 1980," he said. "Please give Kennedy High School the opportunity to share in -- under one roof -- the greatness that Armstrong High School has had for so many years."

"Just think, if Kennedy was not built, where would they move Armstrong," he added. "East End School? Well, Franklin Military Schools. So give us a fair shake. We were evicted from our school. We're just trying to get this back."

To read Mallory's full request and closing statement, click here.