Faculty and staff at Mills E. Godwin Middle School aren’t happy about a plan to change the school’s name.
School Board Chairman, At-large Ryan Sawyers, Neabsco District member Diane Raulston, and Occoquan member Lilly Jessie, who was a principal at Elizabeth Vaughn Elementary School in Woodbridge, met with Godwin faculty and staff in Dale City for two hours March 10 to discuss the name change.
“Ms. Jessie, I think you would be demoralized if someone came and ripped Elizabeth Vaughn off your building,” said Mary Jo Stoy, a 37-year employee at Godwin. “No one is saying don’t name a school after Dr. Hampton…were saying don’t name our school after Dr. Hampton. You say its done, and there’s no changing it. Think of what you’ve done to us. We’re a lower socio-economic group here. We know that the parents aren’t complaining [about the name change because they’re out] making a living and providing for thier family. They won’t be the ones complaning. Go try to change a school name in Lake Ridge, go try to change Regan [Middle School in Gainesville], the parents will string you up by your necks.”
The Prince William County School Board on March 2 unanimously voted to change the name of Godwin Middle School to Dr. George Hampton Middle School, named after a local philanthropist. In the same move, the Board named a new elementary school near the intersection of Minnieville and Spriggs roads by 24-year-old fallen Prince William County firefighter Kyle Wilson.
Stated Sawyers on March 10:
“Changing the name back is highly unlikely…[the name change] did happen fast, and the community did not get input. The reality is we’re here now, and we need to make it as smoothly as we can going forward.”
Jessie promised teachers the changeover would be a large community event:
“Every effort will be made to made the renaming of this school not only a historic event but also one to bring pride within the Godwin community… we will get input from you and sensitive to needs of teachers and alumni of this school.”
The afterschool exchange was held in the school’s auditorium. Many who spoke said Godwin — a two-term Virginia Governor who raised taxes to support the state’s community college system — should continue to be honored with his name on the school.
Potomac District School Board member Justin Wilk, who made the motion to rename Godwin, called Godwin a segregationist and cited a time when Godwin was Virginia’s Lt. Governor and supported “massive resistance,” a federal order to segregate schools. Godwin later changed his position on school integration and is now remembered as a champion for education.
Stated a teacher:
“Why didn’t Mr. Wilk put one of his Potomac District schools up [for renaming]? You say Godwin was a segregationist; there was a lot of segregation in the 1960s…Dale City was a planned community to bring blacks and whites together… Godwin changed his mind and had a cross burned on his lawn for it…we’re very proud to be Godwin Governors, we’ve always been proud to be Godwin Governors.
At one point School Principal Jehovanni Mitchell silenced the group and asked only one person talk at a time.
The name change is expected to occur by fall, in time for the new school year. School signage, mascot and, and school colors will be changed immediately, while gym floors, library materials, and changes to other printed materials will be phased in, said Sawyers.
In the unlikely event the School Board decides to revisit the decision to rename the school, Sawyers added, it would also be forced to remove Kyle Wilson’s name from the county’s new elementary school opening this fall. The motion
In the weeks leading up to the name change, a naming committee was formed and debated to name the new elementary school over Hampton or Wilson. Officials said the naming process divided the community.
Stated Jessie:
“There were two men; one died early, one a war hero who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to kids in this community.”
Stated Raulston about the Board meeting where officials approved the name change:
“If you could have been there for those meetings…”
Replied a teacher in the audience, who said the staff was unaware the School was even considering changing the school’s name:
“How could we? We didn’t know… no one invited us.”
The School Board will meet again at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16.
