Re your personal opinion": The "bullies" in this discussion were from the "keeper" side and included adults who tried to pick fights with kids and questioned whether students had third parties drafting their materials in favor of a name change. They tried to exclude county residents from the process and then, when that failed, tried to keep the FCPS working group from doing anything that might help the school board, only to claim later that the board needed more time.

Go read the guidance. It was supposed to be people from the Stuart community. In fact, there was a complaint from the "changer" side that DKoufax stepped in with some questions. Which was ironic, since the questioner was from outside. I think it was Albers.

I think we all are entitled to "personal opinions" You have yours, I have mine. Certainly, some of the "changers" were pretty loose with the "racist" accusations.

Anonymous wrote:

The prospect of other name changes costing "millions and millions" is remote at this point. JEB Stuart was kind of a special case, and Stuart has a large number of politically active families and alumni. If people at Lee HS, Woodson HS, or Mosby Woods ES, for example, were really pushing for a similar name change, we'd have heard about it by now.

1. The initial emails in the FOIA that is posted discussed Lee, as well as Stuart.
2. Karen Keys-Gamarra, in answering questions from the Fairfax Dems, stated that she is in favor of renaming Stuart, Lee, AND Woodson. It was a question asked to all those seeking the Dem normination. So, clearly the local Democrats want the names changed
I don't see how legal counsel can say it is okay when they repeatedly changed the rules in the process.

My personal opinion: I can understand the name change. I would have voted against it. Where did it go wrong? When Evans pulled in those outside the community. When anyone who was against the name change was demonized, bullied and called a racist.

Had it been handled differently, it would have been difficult, but the process might have worked. Although, it is clear that most of the community was against it. I would not have wanted to speak out with that crowd.

1. Again, those emails are from over 2 years ago.

2. She did, but the Democrats don't speak with one voice. And, again, with a 9-3 or 9-2 majority for the past two years, nothing has happened with Lee.

And maybe the in-house counsel knows more about state education law than you do. The courts are very deferential to local school board decisions in VA as long as they relate to matters where the state has authorized the local body to act.

Re your personal opinion": The "bullies" in this discussion were from the "keeper" side and included adults who tried to pick fights with kids and questioned whether students had third parties drafting their materials in favor of a name change. They tried to exclude county residents from the process and then, when that failed, tried to keep the FCPS working group from doing anything that might help the school board, only to claim later that the board needed more time.

Glad to see Brabrand is moving forward with this promptly - it shows some real leadership.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't Robert E. Lee HS at the top of the list for the changes?

Because Evans is the SB representative for Stuart. Pretty sure that DKoufax would have had to initiated Lee. If you read the FOIA docs, it appears that Evans had been wanting to do this.

I think D-K voted against it. I wondered if she was hoping to avoid any conflict that would come from re-naming Lee.

I think the Lee students/families would probably be happy to change the name -- not many true "southern history pride" types attending Lee.

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't Robert E. Lee HS at the top of the list for the changes?

Because Evans is the SB representative for Stuart. Pretty sure that DKoufax would have had to initiated Lee. If you read the FOIA docs, it appears that Evans had been wanting to do this.

Why wasn't Robert E. Lee HS at the top of the list for the changes?

Anonymous wrote:

The prospect of other name changes costing "millions and millions" is remote at this point. JEB Stuart was kind of a special case, and Stuart has a large number of politically active families and alumni. If people at Lee HS, Woodson HS, or Mosby Woods ES, for example, were really pushing for a similar name change, we'd have heard about it by now.

1. The initial emails in the FOIA that is posted discussed Lee, as well as Stuart.
2. Karen Keys-Gamarra, in answering questions from the Fairfax Dems, stated that she is in favor of renaming Stuart, Lee, AND Woodson. It was a question asked to all those seeking the Dem normination. So, clearly the local Democrats want the names changed
I don't see how legal counsel can say it is okay when they repeatedly changed the rules in the process.

My personal opinion: I can understand the name change. I would have voted against it. Where did it go wrong? When Evans pulled in those outside the community. When anyone who was against the name change was demonized, bullied and called a racist.

Had it been handled differently, it would have been difficult, but the process might have worked. Although, it is clear that most of the community was against it. I would not have wanted to speak out with that crowd.

PP here--I meant to say "endorsement" rather than "nomination".

The prospect of other name changes costing "millions and millions" is remote at this point. JEB Stuart was kind of a special case, and Stuart has a large number of politically active families and alumni. If people at Lee HS, Woodson HS, or Mosby Woods ES, for example, were really pushing for a similar name change, we'd have heard about it by now.

1. The initial emails in the FOIA that is posted discussed Lee, as well as Stuart.
2. Karen Keys-Gamarra, in answering questions from the Fairfax Dems, stated that she is in favor of renaming Stuart, Lee, AND Woodson. It was a question asked to all those seeking the Dem normination. So, clearly the local Democrats want the names changed
I don't see how legal counsel can say it is okay when they repeatedly changed the rules in the process.

My personal opinion: I can understand the name change. I would have voted against it. Where did it go wrong? When Evans pulled in those outside the community. When anyone who was against the name change was demonized, bullied and called a racist.

Had it been handled differently, it would have been difficult, but the process might have worked. Although, it is clear that most of the community was against it. I would not have wanted to speak out with that crowd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school name change?
Did they talk about restoring Bachelor steps on the teacher salary scale?

Just now getting to budget.

But, they voted for the name change--no delay. Close vote--I think 6-5. They clearly did not follow protocol and this may come back to bite them. Some are worried about that. Evans handled this whole thing very poorly from the beginning of the process. She changed the rules throughout the process

If you are a teacher, I wouldn't expect much. They just opened a can of worms that could lead to other name changes costing millions and millions.

Total lack of foresight.

Although Karen Corbett-Sanders voted to delay changing JEB Stuart's name for another three months, she then voted in favor of changing the name when the motion to delay failed. Along the way, she made it clear that the School Board had received advice from its legal counsel that it was on solid legal ground in voting last night to change the name.

The prospect of other name changes costing "millions and millions" is remote at this point. JEB Stuart was kind of a special case, and Stuart has a large number of politically active families and alumni. If people at Lee HS, Woodson HS, or Mosby Woods ES, for example, were really pushing for a similar name change, we'd have heard about it by now.

Anonymous wrote:Hayfield -- named after a place used as a hay field. (really important to know).

Rose Hill -- there was a rose bush on a hill.

Bush Hill -- place where there were bushes on a hill.

Eagle View -- place where someone saw an eagle.

South County -- place at the south side of the county.

Deer Park -- place where deer play

Forestville/Forest Edge/Forestdale -- place of trees.

South Lakes -- lakes at the south end of Reston.

...

OMG. sigh.

I made a similar point earlier and agree with your premise, but some have a bit more behind them. Rose Hill for example was a historic plantation mansion house.

Hayfield -- named after a place used as a hay field. (really important to know).

Rose Hill -- there was a rose bush on a hill.

Bush Hill -- place where there were bushes on a hill.

Eagle View -- place where someone saw an eagle.

South County -- place at the south side of the county.

Deer Park -- place where deer play

Forestville/Forest Edge/Forestdale -- place of trees.

South Lakes -- lakes at the south end of Reston.

...

OMG. sigh.

Anonymous wrote:

I think Westfield was named after an office park. It was actually called West County until shortly before it opened.
Do these people think of anything before they act? Did this really merit a motion?

PP here. On second thought, Westfield might have been named after the Marriot. That should be an interesting "what's in a name"!

Ha! You're right! https://youtu.be/hx9Y82bDEV0

This is what is on the Island Creek HOA website:

Our name is historically accurate and dates back to at least 1694.
When Carr Properties purchased the land, we now call home, they contacted the Lee District Office and asked them to research their files to see if there was any historic reference to this property. Surprisingly the District Office had some background information and wrote the following to the President of Carr Properties (John Cowles):

“I think we have a real winner with Island Creek and we’re delighted that no one else went back as far as 1678 to find it. The name has been verified as historically correct… It is always nice to get an appropriate name that has a tangible link with the history of the site.”

The tract of land that Island Creek is built on was part of the Hunter Tract; 1000 acres of land granted to John Thomas before 1678 and was one of the first Royal Patents in Fairfax County.

The land grant was adjacent to the Long Branch creek and the whole general area was referred to as Island Creek in 1694 possibly due to its location within the Accotink, Dogue and Long Branch creeks. Daniel McCarty purchased the site of the tract in the early 18th century.

.........

That's a whole lotta blah blah blah that a 2nd grader will have no understanding of at all. Smart move, Tamera!

Anonymous wrote:I was wondering about Island Creek Elementary's name. Is it simply named after the development?

yes and no. My oldest graduated from ICES... I remember there was a post on their website long ago (or perhaps in the HOA newsletter) about what the name originally meant (as in why the development was named Island Creek. Pretty sure the school was just named after the development b/c the development happened first). But, anyway, I will see if I can come up with it. But, that just goes to show what a stupid idea this is! Do kids who go to Cherry Run or White Oak or Springfield Estates need to learn EVERY YEAR what a Cherry tree is or a White Oak or an Estate is?

Look, for schools like most of the Middle Schools -- authors and writers --- it is cute to know something about the namesake. For famous Americans like Armstrong, Powell or Edison -- sure, kids can and will learn something quickly about them. But, making this an actual annual requirement is just so short-sighted and myopic. Total lack of critical thinking. Hooray for Moon for not supporting this.

I think Westfield was named after an office park. It was actually called West County until shortly before it opened.
Do these people think of anything before they act? Did this really merit a motion?

PP here. On second thought, Westfield might have been named after the Marriot. That should be an interesting "what's in a name"!

I was wondering about Island Creek Elementary's name. Is it simply named after the development?