Post-election priority: Community collaboration
Following the elections, the community should collaborate on working together to prepare and graduate students who possess the career-ready skills necessary for success in life. To that end, Williamsburg-James City County Schools, in collaboration with the James City County Board of Supervisors and the Williamsburg City Council, have joined forces to support the strategic plan known as Elevate to ’28. This initiative aims to enhance educational outcomes and operational efficiency across the school division, aligning with the new accountability framework established by the state.
Elevate to ’28 establishes explicit objectives for ongoing enhancement, with an emphasis on academic excellence, preparedness for postsecondary education and careers and the promotion of educational equity through student engagement within a safe, collaborative setting. The initiative’s primary aims include improving attendance rates, reducing absenteeism, fostering a constructive school culture, achieving competitive staff compensation and upholding transparency alongside active stakeholder participation.
By working together and supporting these strategic initiatives, the community can ensure that students are equipped with the skills and opportunities necessary for lifelong success. Unified action and a shared vision are vital to realizing the ambitious goals set forth in Elevate to ’28 and to shaping a brighter future for all students in the Williamsburg-James City County schools.
Glenn Marshall, James City County
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James Blair Middle School should be renamed
Names on buildings are intended for recognition and a form of honor; the same can be said for primary and secondary schools. For example, the Harriet Tubman Charter School recognizes the legendary African American heroine. Tubman fought for the oppressed and freed numerous enslaved people from white supremacy. Thus, the school is named after her.
The Rev. James Blair, founder of William & Mary, believed in assimilating Indigenous people into white culture. Through Christianity — from his perspective — they would become civilized and no longer savages. This is the same white nationalist ideology that General Harriet “Moses” Tubman fought against her entire life. Moreover, he was an enslaver; he even acknowledged a desire for a slave quarter at the college because it was already a plantation driven by the Curse of Ham and colonialism. For these reasons, James Blair Middle School should be renamed. His nephew, John Blair, would force his enslaved to the Williamsburg Bray School for a manipulated education of Christianity. It would seem that legacies continue the sins of their fathers.
I am a descendant of William Randolph, one of the original trustees of W&M in 1693. I believe that no building, statue or flag should have any representation to hateful values of the Confederacy; Magruder Elementary School is named after Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder. This is a racial insult to people of color, not to mention un-American. No hero would fight to maintain African enslavement. Just as the Confederate statues of Gen. Robert E. Lee have been taken down due to their hateful symbolism, names can be removed to support “a more perfect union.”
Stephen Strauss, Memphis, Tennessee
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Yes and hope
Yes to pro-business, strong gross domestic product, low unemployment, real income rising, Bidenflation and interest rates moderating, record corporate earnings and stock market, taxes held down (on low and middle income as well as wealthy job providers), fair trade, law enforcement (including drug smuggling), border enforcement, government waste and deficit reduction efforts, international peace deals, freedom and President Trump and Republicans. (And they’re just getting started).
No to unserious, unfortunately nothing-constructive-to-offer Democrats. Rejecting facts, embracing ideological propaganda, censoring and weaponizing government against opponents — that is the real road to tyranny. And apparently an increasingly large share of Democrats view socialism more favorably than capitalism based on troubling polls (and have elected a Democratic Socialists of America big-city mayor). Democrats can also end the government shutdown and resume regular order instead of carrying on the extortion tactics. All this from those holding “No Kings” rallies. Hopefully at some point the hypocrisy will end and Democrats will join the Roaring ’20s party and offer serious and viable solutions toward further prosperity, safety and world peace. Otherwise the blue state exodus will simply continue.
Mike Dewey, Williamsburg
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America is close to authoritarian rule
A recent historical analysis of how nations moved from democratic to authoritarian rule documented how a strong authoritarian succeeded:
Stifled dissent and free speech
Persecuted political opponents
Completely bypassed the legislature
Freely used the military for domestic control
Controlled information and the news media
Took over control of universities
Created a cult of personality
Used power for personal gain and wealth
Manipulated the law to stay in power
If you are reading this, can you deny that none of this is currently happening in America? If not, then do something to stop it. Please, stand up to save your families and your country.
Mike Dallas, Williamsburg
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/11/12/letters-to-the-gazette-87/
