The time has come to change the name of the Godwin Middle School voting precinct in Dale City.
When elections officials strip the Godwin name from the voting precinct, it will be the last trace of Mills E. Godwin in Prince William County Public Schools, the former Virginia Governor Dale City’s first middle school was named after.
The Prince William County School Board voted unanimously on March 2 to change the name of the school to the Dr. George Hampton Middle School, in honor of a local philanthropist. Officials argued that the name of Godwin, who supported segregation of schools and later supported integration when he was governor, had no place on a school building in Prince William County.
From Prince William County documents:
The name change is expected to cost taxpayers $1,700 to cover the costs of new signage, maps, and mailing notices to residents about the name change.
Mailers notifying residents of the precinct change must be sent to voters 15 days before the election, according to county documents. State law requires any precinct name change be completed 60 days before the election.
The name change is expected to come before the Board of Supervisors in July.
The Prince William County Electoral Board will meet Thursday, June 23 at 2 p.m. at the Main Office of Elections, 9250 Lee Avenue, Suite 1 in Manassas.
