WASHINGTON — After a racially-charged public hearing Wednesday, the Prince William County School Board said it would stand by its recent decision to rename a Dale City middle school on the grounds that its current name honors a segregationist.
Board members heard voluminous heated testimony from both sides of the issue.
They ultimately voted 5-3 to stick with the decision to rename Godwin Middle School after George Hampton, a philanthropist, retired educator and black community leader.
The debate began last month as the board weighed its options in naming a new elementary school in the county. Board members could not decide between using the name of Hampton or Kyle Wilson, a fallen firefighter, so they went with a compromise.
They named the new school after Wilson and voted to honor Hampton by putting his name on what is currently Godwin Middle School.
The move drew anger and frustration from community members who say a name change is costly and unnecessary and was decided upon without input from the public.
Supporters of the change claim it is a positive move for the community because former Virginia Gov. Mills Godwin supported segregation.
