by JONAS BEALS
James Monroe High School Principal Daryl Chesley has abandoned plans to outfit Maury Stadium with modern seating.
Chesley cited an overwhelming negative response from students, administration and alumni after an article about the plan appeared in The Free Lance-Star.
JM sophomore Will Campbell hatched the idea with classmate Kellie Martin. The two spent the summer getting approval for the project, and thought everything was on the right track after Chesley approved their fundraising efforts.
Operating as the Class of 2011 Maury Stadium Student Revitalization Committee, they had already raised a portion of the money needed to begin the project. The committee didn't expect such a backlash from the school or the community.
"I guess the senior class just didn't want it to go down," Will said, citing older students who wanted to retain some tradition after moving into a new school in 2006.
"Maury is the only thing they still have. I understand that," he said.
Senior Sarah Fisher, who was a vocal opponent of the plan, agreed that nostalgia was a factor.
"We've had to deal with so many new things," she said. "The stadium is one of the last bits of tradition we have. The atmosphere at Maury is so different than anywhere else, and we were worried about losing that."
Sarah, along with about a dozen other students, wore homemade "Save Maury" T-shirts to an assembly Monday, where they asked Chesley to explain the project.
"I wanted to vocalize my opinion without attacking any individuals at JM," Sarah said. "I love everyone here."
After the assembly, Sarah circulated an impromptu petition opposing the seating plan, gathering approximately 320 signatures in a little more than two hours. By the end of the day, Chesley told her the project would not move forward.
"I have so much respect for everyone involved, and it's a great idea," she added, "But it was just never brought to the entire student body."
School Board Chairman Mike Gillenwater advised that the board was monitoring the situation. He said he admires the entrepreneurial spirit of the students who proposed the plan, but stated that "due to overwhelming community comment, it was decided that it should not move forward."
Will is assessing the situation--taking responsibility without placing blame.
"I don't fault anybody," he said. "I just wanted to give everyone a chance to leave their name at Maury. I guess it wasn't meant to be.
"I could get upset, or take it as a learning experience. I learned a lot about how business operates in the real world."
To reach Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036;
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com