Byrd Middle School was named after Harry Flood Byrd, a United States Senator and Virginia Governor, who among other things, was a founder and supporter of the Massive Resistance Movement, which sought to prevent desegregation by closing down schools. Prince Edward County was hit the hardest. With public schools closed from 1959 to 1964, African American students there were unable to receive an education for 5 years. When Governor Byrd died in 1966, Henrico’s new middle school, opening in 1971, was named in his honor. But now in 2015, with 44% of the student population of Byrd Middle School identifying as a minority, it seems the time has come to consider changing this name which doesn’t reflect Henrico’s current mission. The School Board has the power to have the name changed. Show that you care about this issue.