The Transition to Storage
The signs indicating Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary Schools have been transitioned into storage, marking a significant step in the process of reverting to their original names. This decision follows the efforts of a group advocating for the restoration of the schools’ original identities.
Confirmation of Change
1. Leaders’ Confirmation: Mike Scheibe, representing The Coalition for Better Schools, along with Schools Superintendent Melody Sheppard, have confirmed the relocation of the signs for the two southern campus schools to storage.
Background of Name Changes
The schools were initially named Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School. However, in 2020, amidst the nationwide social justice movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd, the names were changed to Mountain View and Honey Run, respectively.
Reevaluation by School Board
2. Recent Decision: On May 9, the Shenandoah County School Board voted to revert the names back to Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School, citing a lack of public input during the 2020 renaming process.
Timeline for Changes
3. Incremental Progress: School Board Chairman Dennis Barlow outlined plans for incremental changes throughout the summer, with a tentative completion date of July 1 for the full restoration of the original names.
Funding the Transition
While taxpayers funded the changes enacted in 2020, the current name change will be financed through public donations. The Coalition for Better Schools has taken on the responsibility of fundraising for this endeavor.
Community Support
4. Nationwide Contributions: Scheibe mentioned that the local group has received donations from across the country, demonstrating widespread support for the restoration of the original school names.
Financial Considerations
5. Cost Estimations: While the exact amount raised remains undisclosed, Scheibe assured that the donations, reaching into six figures, are sufficient to cover the expenses associated with the transition.
The decision to relocate the signs for Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary Schools to storage marks a significant milestone in the process of restoring their original names. With community support and fundraising efforts underway, the transition is progressing towards its completion.
