Richmond County School System’s Board of Education approved plans to rename Lucy C. Laney High School’s stadium in honor of a legendary alumni in this month’s regular session on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
After congratulating several students from various county schools on winning awards and competitions, fellow board members supported Venus Cain’s endeavor to pay recognition to coach David Dupree by rededicating Laney’s football stadium.
Prior to Dupree’s death in 2012, he was known in the CSRA for serving as Laney High’s head football coach for 26 years, and was even inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
“Coach Dupree began his employment at Lucy C. Laney High School in 1964 – the year the school was opened,” said Cain. “He won state titles in 1961 and again in 1966 … and there is so much more that I could say about this man.”
Larry Fletcher, the board’s attorney, said Dupree and his wife both taught at Laney High and was a prime example of an active and dedicated member of the community.
“He’s indeed a legend of the Laney community, and the board’s renaming of the Lucy C. Laney memorial stadium in his honor is befitting to the contribution that he made to this community and the thousands of lives he touched,” Fletcher said.
However, before the board celebrated a local Laney icon, Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw reminded the county about the “unfortunate” shooting that occurred Feb. 5 in the high school’s bathroom.
“A firearm was discharged by a student in the boys’ restroom, causing damage to a fixture. Thank goodness no one was injured,” Bradshaw said.
Publicly thanking the county’s fast-responding police department and the school’s administration for their diligence in handling the shooting, Bradshaw said the aftermath of the shooting highlighted how weapons within schools were not to be tolerated.
“Even though the outcome resulted in no injuries, I want to reiterate to parents and the community that guns and weapons do not belong in schools,” he said.
Bradshaw ended his remarks by asking parents to remind students of the severity in bringing weapons to school property, and how each incident would only continue to affect the county in negative ways.
“Distractions like this will continue to overshadow the positive behaviors in our school system,” he said. “I know we all want great schools, therefore I thank you in advance for your full cooperation while we address these matters.”
Concerned community member and Laney alumni Brian Green spoke out at the meeting and said the board needed to start buckling down on the school violence if they truly want anything to change.
“We just can’t have that in school … and it definitely does affect academic achievement,” he said. “I don’t think we can go on with business as usual. We have to come together … let’s do what’s necessary so we don’t keep having these incidents.”
Within his public comments, Green suggested the board acquire metal detectors and even consider more extreme action, such as banning backpacks, in order to ensure school safety and security.
“This is a public safety issue,” he said. “It may be uncomfortable, but security isn’t about what’s comfortable – it’s about what’s necessary.”
Before ending the meeting by adjourning to executive session, board President Charlie Walker Jr. addressed how multiple community members had become concerned upon hearing the news of possible school consolidations and closures in light of the county’s proposed five-year vision.
After hiring a new team to recognize flaws for almost every county school, Walker said the district was approached with several recommendations as part of a possible long term plan that could incorporate several phases, in order to increase the school system’s state funding.
“They are very in-depth and they proposed a presentation that makes sense, and it’s all centered around student achievement – all we’re trying to do is improve that,” Walker said. “It’s a lot to digest … but we have voted on nothing.”
Walker finished by encouraging parents and Richmond County residents to attend any of the upcoming six informational hearings in order to give feedback and understand the comprehensive vision.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com.
