The tragic passing of our student Jay on August 5th, 2024, under preventable circumstances that demand urgent attention and action. 

 

Please know that any money chipped in likely goes to the website. I will start finding a way for it to go to his family.

On the day of this tragic incident, the school was experiencing temperatures around 90°F with high humidity. The air conditioning system, which fails every year, was again broken, leaving the floors wet with sweat and humidity. Despite considering the option of closing the school, the decision was made to keep it open.

Football practice was conducted under these extreme conditions. Jay, while exercising, collapsed. Details on if CPR was administered, and who by, have been debated. Furthermore, a defibrillator that was available in the building was not utilized. The lack of an athletics director, due to the position's contract not starting until August 12th, meant that the students practiced during a heat advisory without the guidance of a trained professional.

We believe that our school must take immediate action to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specifically, we are calling for:

1. Immediate Repair and Upgrades to the AC System: Our school must address the recurring failures of the air conditioning system to ensure a safe environment for all students.

2. Removal, or leniency of the Yondr Pouch Policy: The locked phone pouch policy should be reconsidered to allow direct communication between students and their families in emergencies.

3. Transparency and Communication: Parents and guardians must be informed about critical issues, such as AC failures, gas leaks, and lockdown drills, in a timely manner as they have failed to do so in the past.

We urge you to join us in civilly advocating for these essential changes. A School Board meeting will be held on August 8th at 7:30 PM at 103 North 12 Avenue, Hopewell, Virginia 23860. Public commentary will be permitted. Please attend and voice your support for these necessary improvements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A protest will be held at Merner Field, Hopewell, Virginia on August 9th, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let us work together to ensure that no other student has to face such preventable dangers.