Dear Teachers, Staff, and Parents
The essence of public education is to create a safe and welcoming environment for all, without exception.
Here in Gloucester, we stand on the shoulders of giants like Thomas Calhoun Walker, whose life work was to advance public education leading to Gloucester County Virginia boasting the highest percentage of Black land and property ownership in the nation at one point. Our history is intertwined with pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, exemplified by the bravery of individuals like Irene Morgan, who courageously challenged segregation laws and won a landmark Supreme Court case right here in our community. It is also believed that Martin Luther King Jr. wrote parts of his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Moton House, located in Gloucester, further cementing our community's connection to the struggle for a better world.
Despite this rich history of progress, as you will remember, in early January 2024 our secondary schools faced a breach of safety and well-being. Racist graffiti targeting the African American community was discovered in the bathrooms at Peasley Middle School, Page Middle School, and Gloucester High School. These messages implied violence and impacted not only our entire school community but particularly our African American students and staff. We also shared with our community that on Saturday night, February 19, 2024, Abingdon Elementary School was vandalized with racist slurs, vulgar language, and lewd images. We promptly reported this incident to the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office, and it is currently under investigation.
We took swift and immediate action, unequivocally denouncing such hateful acts. Each time an incident happened, we alerted the community and took a decisive and firm stand against racism and discrimination of any type. Perpetrators were identified and held accountable in accordance with both the Student Code of Conduct and State Law. Furthermore, we have improved our protocols for conducting investigations to ensure a thorough and comprehensive approach.
In our commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for all, we have partnered with the Center for Virginia Inclusive Communities to provide training for both students and staff. This training is beginning in late April and will continue throughout the 2024-25 school year. Additionally, we are beginning the process for collaborating with community organizations to
bridge the gap between our rich local African American history and the present lives of our students.
Moving forward, we eagerly anticipate collaborating with organizations such as the NAACP and the Woodville Rosenwald Foundation to enlighten our path towards a world where differences are embraced and collective progress is championed.
Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to a kind world, respect for one another and our common humanity.
Sincerely,
Dr. Anthony Vladu
Division Superintendent