As the King George County Board of Supervisors presented Ralph Bunche Alumni Association President Claudette Jordon a resolution recognizing the school’s 75th anniversary Tuesday night, she acknowledged others who attended the school that was formed during segregation and now sits vacant off U.S. Route 301.
The resolution declared Sept. 2, 2024 as Ralph Bunche High School Dedication Anniversary Day in King George.
However, Jordon and the alumni association are seeking more than just recognition. They’re also fundraising and seeking county support for the approximately $10 million Ralph Bunche Visualize and Rize Center — the name of the community outreach center planned once the dilapidated building is renovated and restored into a gathering place for King George residents.
“We signed [a Memorandum of Understanding] with the county that by 2026 we would fundraise to build a museum there, and the museum would, of course, tell the story of the road to desegregation of schools in King George County,” Jordon said. “We’re trying to get a good venue there.”
Ralph Bunche High School opened Sept. 2, 1949, for Black children after parents in the county sued for access to a facility equal to that of white students.
The resolution from the county notes that Ralph Bunche was constructed as the result of Margaret Smith v. School Board of King George County, Virginia, and was the premise of Richmond Civil Action No. 631, a lawsuit filed in 1946 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Three years later, Ralph Bunche replaced King George Training School, which was built in 1916 and was previously named Edgehill Training School. Jordon noted that the training school only offered classes through 11th grade.
“They would rather shut down the old King George High School than to let Blacks come in,” Jordan said. “OK, then build one for us and that’s how we got Ralph Bunche back in 1949.”
A historical marker sits near Ralph Bunche High School off U.S. Route 301 in King George County, recognizing its impact on school desegregation. (Photo courtesy of the Ralph Bunche Alumni Association)
The school was named after Dr. Ralph Bunche, a civil rights activist and recipient of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize. It was in operation until desegregation in 1968, and the alumni association was formed in 1975.
The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, but there has not been any activity on the property in many years.
The county received a $500,000 grant from the National Park Service to replace the roof two years ago. Jordon said now that the roof is solid, the next step is to remove mold and asbestos from the interior before full-scale renovation begins.
A fundraiser community event and jazz concert will be held on the grounds on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jordon said county officials stated in the past that they would contribute to the project, but a new board of supervisors took office in January, and she is unsure as to the amount of funds they will allocate.
“They’re committed,” Jordon said. “I just can’t get them to give us a hard figure of matching … It’s a community effort. It really is. The school is in the district of [Shiloh District Supervisor] Cathy Binder, and [Board Chair] T.C. Collins has been very supportive all along.”
Binder said there have been no recent board discussions regarding supporting the project financially. She added, however, that it is not out of the question.
“I support the preservation of Ralph Bunche High School and the legacy of its students,” Binder said. “At this time, there has not been recent discussions of monetary support from the county to renovate the school; however, I am open to discussions in the future.”
The county owns the property, and officials established an advisory committee made up of King George stakeholders to come up with a plan for renovating the school into a museum and community center.
Jordan said the gymnasium will be the focal point of the renovation and could hold gatherings including musical productions. She said there would also be conference rooms, STEM activities for students, counseling services, potential office space for county employees and certification opportunities for people entering the culinary business. She is also hopeful that an ancillary building on site can be refurbished and used as a workout center.
Former NFL offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod, a King George native, donated to the efforts, and his Visualize and Rize Foundation is part of the name.
“It’s just a wonderful partnership,” Jordon said.
The association held a fundraising gala last year, and Sherman Parker, the first Black student to desegregate schools in the county, made an appearance via video. The gala will be replaced by the jazz concert and festival this year, and Jordon is anticipating a large turnout.
“We won’t be able to go into the school because it is not habitable, but we’re on the property,” Jordon said. “It’s beautiful outside, and we want to do a carnival-like atmosphere, get the community re-engaged, let everyone know we’re here and what we’re trying to do.”
For more information on the project, visit rbaa1949.org.
Board adopts two more resolutions
In other county business Tuesday, the board passed a resolution opposing a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Planning District 16, which includes the City of Fredericksburg, Caroline, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties.
The resolution stated that the RTA proposed by the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) would impose several new taxes on county residents, including an additional sales retail tax, state recordation tax, transient occupancy tax and a new grantor’s tax that would “disproportionately” assist the more urban localities in the planning district.
“[It] would subject King George County to new taxes, the majority of which would go to the Fredericksburg region for transportation approvals,” said King George Interim County Attorney Richard Stuart, who is also a state senator. “So, what this resolution says is the county opposes that or, if it’s adopted by the General Assembly, would like the ability to opt out.”
Binder said that during a FAMPO meeting Monday night, Caroline and Spotsylvania officials presented similar resolutions stating opposition to the RTA. Stuart said he expects a bill to come forward in the General Assembly promoting an RTA for the area, and the resolution was a necessary step to let state officials know where the county stands.
The board also approved a resolution to “take the necessary steps and engage necessary individuals to acquire the intake owned by Birchwood and/or Amazon Data Services” on the Rappahannock River.
Charlie Payne, an attorney for the Hirschler Fleischer law firm that represents ADS, said he cannot comment on the county’s move to attempt to purchase the property.
Stuart said it is imperative to acquire the intake — which the Free Press confirmed is owned by Amazon — because the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality gave the county a deadline to get off the aquifer and to find another source of water to serve residents.
“There have been discussions among members of the board to pursue trying to acquire that intake,” Stuart said. “I’ve done a little bit of research into this and if you all would like for me to proceed down that path I think this is the first resolution you would need to adopt, and it would instruct me to proceed to try to acquire that intake on the river … and to engage any other persons I need to assist me in that purpose.”
Binder noted that the county attempted to purchase the property from Birchwood years ago, but its offer was rejected. She said the DEQ gave the county 14 years to get off the aquifer.
Charlie Payne, a person central to this article, is an attorney for Hirschler Fleischer, a major donor to the Free Press.
