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Historical marker planned for Kennedy High School

A piece by Chris Suarez on RVA Open Source tells a bit of the history of Kennedy High School and Armstrong High School, and has the details on a historical marker planned to commemorate Kennedy HS:

Established in 1968, JFK opened as a state-of-the-art school facility for the East End’s various neighborhoods including – but not limited to – several housing projects. Located at 2300 Cool Lane, Kennedy was built within a mile of Armstrong High School.

“In my heart, it’s still the landmark high school in the city of Richmond.” said former Kennedy faculty member, Pernell Taylor, “I’ve been to a lot of high schools throughout Virginia and it ranks with the best. I’m so proud to have been a part of it.”

A former basketball, track and football coach and physical education teacher at JFK Kennedy for 30 years, Taylor says he was one of the original teachers offered a position at the new Kennedy school which included two gymnasiums, an auditorium with a balcony, a greenhouse and air conditioning (an unprecedented luxury at the time for most Richmond Public Schools).

[…]

“I think it’s critical we don’t lose this history,” said 7th District School Board Representative and Chairman Donald Coleman. “I know it’ll bring joy to a lot of people who believe they lost something. Kennedy is a significant part of Richmond history. It was part of a critical transition period for Richmond Public Schools and African-American people.”

PHOTO via Richmond Public Schools

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