WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SJ 312

Commending the Hickory Hill School.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lamont Bagby and 1 co-sponsor

The bill ceremonially commends Hickory Hill School for its historic service to generations of African American students in the Richmond area.

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ312ER)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SJ 312

Summary: Senate Joint Resolution No. 312 (SJ312ER) — Commending the Hickory Hill School

Overview

  • Purpose: A ceremonial resolution recognizing and commending the Hickory Hill School for its historical significance and enduring legacy in serving generations of African American students in the Richmond region.
  • Status: Enrolled as SJ312ER; passed both chambers (Senate and House) in the 2025 session.
  • Introduced: January 27, 2025
  • Legislative actions:
    • Introduced January 27, 2025; presented as SJ312
    • Agreed to by the Senate by voice vote on January 30, 2025
    • Agreed to by the House by voice vote on February 3, 2025
    • Enrolled February 4, 2025
  • Patrons: Senators Hashmi and Bagby

Background and Significance

  • The Hickory Hill School is described as Chesterfield County’s historic training school for African American students during segregation, located in what is now part of Southside Richmond.
  • Key historical milestones highlighted in the resolution:
    • Founded circa 1869; served as a central site for education and workforce training for African American students for about a century.
    • In 1910, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad donated 1.82 acres to support the school; ongoing land donations followed.
    • In the 1920s, benefited from the Rural School Building Program (Tuskegee University) in partnership with the Julius Rosenwald Fund; became the first non-city high school for African American students in the Commonwealth.
    • Operated as a high school, elementary school, and the Chesterfield County Training School, offering instruction in industrial arts, home economics, agriculture, and academics.
    • Rebuilt after a 1938 fire; the new building was the first brick school in Chesterfield County, designed by state architect Raymond V. Long.
    • James Preston Spencer (principal) and Evie Carpenter Spencer contributed land in 1938; Spencer held multiple education leadership roles and was instrumental in civil rights-era efforts.
    • The school’s broader civic role included actions linked to the Virginia Voters League and local NAACP chapters; notable litigation in 1948 countered teacher salary discrimination.
    • The site is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places; currently operates as the Hickory Hill Community Center, continuing to influence civic and educational values.

Provisions and Effect

  • Core provision: The General Assembly commends the Hickory Hill School for its long service to generations of African American students in the Richmond region.
  • Acknowledgment and presentation: Requires the Clerk of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for presentation to the Hickory Hill Community Center as a formal expression of admiration for the school’s enduring legacy.
  • Nature of the bill: Ceremonial/recognition resolution; does not create new law, authorize spending, or impose new requirements.

Who/What is Affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Hickory Hill School and its successor entity, the Hickory Hill Community Center.
  • Associated institutions: Virginia Landmarks Register, National Register of Historic Places, local preservation or civic groups (as referenced in the historical narrative).

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • The bill was introduced in the 2025 session and progressed through standard unanimous-consent (voice vote) approvals in both chambers.
  • Final enrolled status recorded as SJ312ER on February 4, 2025, indicating passage of the bill as enrolled text.

Potential Impact

  • Symbolic and cultural: Elevates recognition of the Hickory Hill School’s historical contributions and may bolster community pride and ongoing preservation efforts.
  • Practical effects: No direct fiscal impact or statutory changes; primarily a ceremonial acknowledgment and an educational/historical commemorative record.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.