Washington-Lee High School Renaming Committee Recommendation - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Washington-Lee High School Renaming Committee Recommendation

December 20, 2018

Arlington School Board Direction – June 7, 2018

 Approve recommendation for renaming Washington-Lee High School

because Robert E. Lee’s name does not meet the with the newly- adopted APS School Naming Criteria.

 Direct the Superintendent to identify members of the Washington-Lee

High School Re-Naming Committee by September 2018.

 Renaming Committee will be charged to work through the fall of 2018

and to submit a recommendation for a new name (and alternative) for Washington-Lee by December 2018.

2

Forming the Renaming Committee: Summer 2018

Online Application Form for the Renaming Committee:

 “Arlington Public Schools is accepting applications from members of the Washington-Lee

community who are interested in serving on the Renaming Committee ….. The Renaming Committee will meet weekday evenings this fall to develop a recommendation for a new name for Washington-Lee High School. If you wish to be a member of the Renaming Committee, please fill out this form.”

 170 applications received  Random, double-blind lottery held to select representatives for each group  Washington-Lee Student Government Co-Presidents conducted lottery for student,

parent, alumni representatives

 School Board approval on September 7, 2018

3

Renaming Committee Members

W- W-L S Staff

* Gregg Robertson Hiromi Isobe Jacqueline Stallworth Dave Peters

St Student udents

Thornton Thomas (9) Regina Santos-Caballero (10) * Chloe Slater (11) * John Holt (12)

Alum Alumni ni

• Wm. Moser (1952-70) (12/3/18)

Julia Crull (1971-85) Abstained * Peter Strack (1986 – 2005) Dana Raphael (2006-18)

Pa Parents nts

Patrice Kelly (11/29/18) Allison Chen Duane Butcher

Civic Associations Civic Associations

* Allan Gajadhar (Cherrydale) * Nikki Roy (Lyon Park) George Keating (Waverly Hills) * James Rosen (Ballston-Va. Square)

Community R Community Representativ presentatives

Melissa Perry (Arlington Civic Coalition/ Minority Affairs George Axiotis (Arlington Historical Society)

Suppor Support ( (non-v

• n-vot
• ting*)

ing*)

Sian Madden (Facilitator) * Linda Erdos (Staff Liaison)

4 * Presenters

Committee Facilitator

 Certified Professional Facilitator sought through the Mid-Atlantic

Facilitators Network and the International Association of Facilitators (IAF)

 11 Proposals Received  Sian Madden Selected

 20 years experience in South Africa and USA  Certified Professional Facilitator (IAF)  Certified Master Gestalt OD Practitioner  Certified Systems & Constellations Coach  Completing M.S. in Organizational Development  Annapolis, Md. Resident

5

W-L Renaming Committee Meetings:

• Oct. 11
• Oct. 16
• Oct. 30
• Nov. 14
• Nov. 29

Committ Committee Pr e Process and F

• cess and Feedback

edback

• Reviewed Naming Policy Criteria
• Discussed options for constituent input
• Solicited initial feedback to identify potential names
• Reviewed input from the “Engage” online forms (over

750 emails

• Started with 57 name suggestions
• Narrowed the list to 5 by consensus based on

 Naming Policy Criteria  APS Mission, Vision and Core Values  Members’ values

• Committee members wrote rationale for each finalist

name to share at final meeting

• Members voted by secret ballot to select final

recommendation and alternate names

6

Stakeholder Engagement

 “Engage with APS”

Online Form

 Community Outreach  WL Alumni  “APS School Talk” Message

 Staff  Families

 Suggestion Box at all

Committee Meetings

7

Student Engagement

 With Current W-L Students:

Student announcements WL Student meetings Student Council Assn. (SCA) Athletic Council Principal’s Advisory Council Engagement with students in class IB Student Advisory Council Grade Level Student Advisory Committees

8

Key Themes & Discussions

 What is the charge for the committee’s work?  Grappling with the “myth” of Lee  How should the committee consider advocacy for “no name change?”  How could we reach younger graduates who are not members of the

Alumni groups?

 Would choosing “another Lee” represent a “name change?”  Should the committee consider the cost of the name change?  Can the committee recommend names to keep the “W-L” acronym?

9

Acknowledging Community Feedback

 Changing the Name

 Some proposed changes and alternatives  Some preferred W-L acronym but a different “L” (e.g., Lincoln)  Some preferred W-L but a different “Lee” (e.g., “Light-Horse Harry”)  Many wanted to keep the current name

 Themes from “Engage with APS”

 Many were upset with the process and vented frustration  Some worried about the impact to the school’s reputation  Many worried about cost considerations  Many worried about rewriting history  Some supported pursuit of ways to teach/confront difficult history lessons

10

Semi-f Semi-finalist List inalist List Semi-f Semi-finalist List inalist List Finalist List Finalist List Finalist List Finalist List

 Arlington-Central  Washington-Lafayette (James)  Washington-Lee (Lighthorse Harry)  Washington-Lee (William/Billy)  Washington-Liberty  Washington-Lincoln  Washington-Loving  Washington (Booker T.)-Loving  Washington-Tubman  W-L (just the initials)

 Washington-Lee

(William/Billy Lee)

 Washington-Liberty  Washington-Lincoln  Washington-Loving  Washington-Tubman

Narrowing the List of Suggested Names

11

 Continue to honor George Washington as a founding father of our nation.  Loving v. Virginia is a very clear representation of the progress our society

has made since then.

 The Lovings impacted Virginia in all the

right ways.

Committee Recommendation: Washington-Loving High School

• The name represents inclusion, acceptance, and the

pursuit of happiness.

• It represents many students at Washington-Lee High

School, arguably one of the top most diverse APS schools.

• It also represents the focus of the IB program which

celebrates the global diversity of our world

• It turns the school’s name from a negative connotation

into something that is positive and part of our state’s history.

Mildred a ldred and R d Rich char ard L d Loving ving Lo Lovin ving v v, Virgin Virginia ia – – 1967 1967 landmark civil

rights decision of the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage

12

Committee Recommendation (cont’d): Washington-Loving High School

 Richard Perry Loving (1933 – 1975)  Mildred Delores Loving (1929 – 2008)  Their “Principal Legacy”

 Evokes the APS emphasis on equality and reminds the community of the

APS Mission “to ensure all students learn and thrive.”

 Their successful fight to overcome racial barriers serves as a reminder

to the APS Vision “to be an inclusive community.”

 Their courageous example aligns with the APS Core Values and beliefs of

“equity, inclusivity and integrity.”

 The nature of their struggle also speaks directly to the diverse community

that APS and Washington-Lee serves.

 The Loving name does not duplicate the name of any other school in our

region.

13

Alternate Choice: Washington-Liberty High School

 From Civil W

• m Civil War t

r to Civil Rights; Civil Rights; Liber Liberty wa was t s the c e central t ntral theme o eme of o

• ur c

r committ mmittee’s wo ee’s work rk

 Liberty denied (slavery, Civil War, Restoration, Jim Crow, segregation, tools of oppression)  Liberty sought (inalienable, civil rights ‐ free speech, voting, assembly, marriage, expression)  Explored symbols and representations of liberty (people and aspirations)

 Ac

Acknowledged t knowledged the d e different c erent choice ces m s made b de by W Washingt shington and Lee (

• n and Lee (principal legacies

principal legacies)

 George Washington chose to leave his home state to lead the Continental Army against an oppressive monarchy

and served as the first leader of our new nation.

 Robert E. Lee chose to leave his country (after 32 years) to lead his home state in rebellion against the United

States

 Affirmed

firmed W Washingt shington a

• n and re

replaced L placed Lee w ee with a h a s symbol o mbol of h hope pe

 Positive symbolism is critical; replace a bastion of hate with a beacon of hope  Symmetry of George Washington (Father of His Country) and Lady Liberty (Mother of Exiles, Mother of Her

People) 14

Alternate Choice (cont’d): Washington-Liberty High School

 Washingt

shington-Liber

• n-Liberty honor

ty honors humble leader humble leadership t ship to adv advance civil liber nce civil liberties for all ties for all

 Aspirational name that Fosters Inclusivity* and Seeks Equity* across the internationally diverse culture and socio‐

economic backgrounds of the student body

 Washington’s servant‐leadership mentality paired with Liberty’s light shining on challenging current events or

areas of study supports Acting with Integrity* while Practicing Good Stewardship*, spurring discussions, inquiries and analysis enabling more students to Collaborate Openly*

 Name encourages students to Strive for Excellence* by cultivating the capabilities and capacities necessary to

productively explore desired endeavors, defend civil liberties, and pursue happiness

 Washington-Liberty updates the cherished “W-L” brand and historical legacy

 Retaining W‐L reduces the fiduciary burden by limiting widespread changes to logos, colors, and décor (prevalent

theme from community feedback)

 Retaining W‐L acknowledges the past while also positioning it more appropriately for future generations

15 * APS * APS Core Core Valu lues es

“A Once Once in a Life in a Lifetime Experience” time Experience”

To Top Te Ten

1.

The fun, energetic, polite, talented students.

2.

The dedicated, highly skilled and hard-working faculty and staff.

3.

The diversity of the school.

4.

The support W-L receives from APS.

5.

The incredible number of clubs and extra-curricular

• pportunities.

6.

The Washington-Lee fine arts program and athletic program.

7.

The dedicated and supportive parents and PTA.

8.

The supportive and proud community W-L serves.

9.

The many opportunities offered to individual students.

• 10. The national recognition our students receive—including

100% participation in AP/IB.

16

Renaming Committee Recommendation Conclusion: Washington-Loving High School

 Maintains the “W-L” acronym  Continues to honor George Washington, whose “principal legacy” was as the

“Founding Father” of our nation

 Adds recognition for more current history and heroes  Celebrates the school’s growing diversity  Aligns the W-L “Brand” with today’s APS mission, vision & core values  Provides a unique opportunity for W-L to continue to discuss history and the

importance of advancing civil rights and human rights for all

“. . . we must honor the kinds of service that we hope to have repeated in the future."

General Stanley McChrystal, Former W-L Student

The Washington Post – November 21, 2018

17