|
|
|
|
|
Meeting Date:
|
7/10/2020 - 12:00 PM
|
|
Category:
|
New Business and Reports to the Board
|
|
Type:
|
Info/Action
|
|
Subject:
|
Request to Rename T.C. Williams High School
|
|
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
|
Goal 1: Systemic Alignment ACPS will build a culture of continuous improvement and design equitable systems for school and instructional improvement. Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments. Goal 5: Family and Community Engagement ACPS will ensure that all families and community members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
|
|
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
|
|
|
File Attachment:
|
|
|
Agenda Item Summary:
|
On June 15, 2020, the School Board received a request to rename T.C. Williams High School that was accompanied by at least 100 signatures of Alexandria residents as required by Regulation FF-R. The newly proposed name is “Tubman-Chávez High School.” The rationale for the request is:
“T.C. Williams was a segregationist. Harriet Tubman was a black female freedom fighter and César Chávez was an important Latino civil rights activist…[They were] incredible Americans whose names would honor our high school while allowing it to keep the initials ‘T.C.’ They would provide representation to students who do not see their heritage adequately in Alexandria schools’ names...This name change can preserve most branding, allow students to still be part of ‘T.C.,’ and remove this stain on our history.”
|
|
Background:
|
Policy FF and Regulation FF-R outline the School Board’s authority to name and rename new and existing schools and other school division facilities. Renaming requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation, including 100 signatures of Alexandria residents.
Specifically, Section III. of Regulation FF-R provides that “the School Board may, at its discretion, consider requests to rename an existing school. The following procedure shall be followed when renaming an existing school to honor individuals or to recognize places or historical events for their contribution to the community or their impact on it.” Upon receipt of a valid request, Section III.B. directs the Board to determine whether it will vote “to pursue a request to rename an existing school.”
A vote to “pursue” the request is not a vote to rescind the current name and does not commit the Board to any future renaming. It is a vote that directs “the Superintendent [to] follow the naming process as outlined in Section I.” This includes initiating a robust public engagement process to solicit community nominations and/or voting, development of a timetable, cost estimates, a list of tasks required and a summary report by the Superintendent with recommendations to the Board (Reg. FF-R, Section I.). Once the Superintendent’s recommendations have been presented at a Board Meeting for information, a public hearing is required prior to any Board action to rename the school or facility.
In lieu of voting to “pursue a request,” other alternatives available to the Board include taking no action on a renaming request or voting to deny the request.
|
|
Recommendation:
|
The Superintendent recommends the Board consider the attached request to rename T.C. Williams High School.
|
|
Approvals:
|
|
Recommended By:
|
|
Signed By:
|
|
|
Final-Clerk of the Board - Proxy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vote Results:
|
| Original Motion | | Member Christopher A. Suarez Moved, Member Meagan L. Alderton seconded to approve the Original motion 'The Superintendent recommends the Board consider the attached request to rename T.C. Williams High School.'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 9 Nay: 0. | | The motion Carried 9 - 0 | | | | | Ramee A. Gentry | Yes | | Margaret Lorber | Yes | | Cindy Anderson | Yes | | Veronica R. Nolan | Yes | | Meagan L. Alderton | Yes | | Christopher A. Suarez | Yes | | Jacinta Greene | Yes | | Dr. Michelle Rief | Yes | | Heather Thornton | Yes | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|