How Does a School Change Its Name?

It all began in November 2022, when members of the Poughkeepsie City School District’s Parent Advisory Committee raised concerns about the names of the district’s elementary school buildings to Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, who then presented these ideas to the PCSD Board of Education.

By May 2023, Vassar College students produced a report (link to report) for the Poughkeepsie City School District on the names of the city's elementary school buildings. The report outlined the historical figures behind those names and why they might not be appropriate. The names included Samuel F.B. Morse Elementary School, Gov. George Clinton Elementary School, and the administrative offices named Christopher Columbus.

This document caught the attention of a particular organization, Celebrating the African Spirit (CAS). According to its website, CAS’s mission is to recognize, articulate, research, and commemorate the lives of enslaved Africans in Poughkeepsie, New York. Their work is based on the reality that slavery existed in the Mid-Hudson region and Poughkeepsie from its early days, and enslaved adults and children contributed significantly to the growth of what is now the city of Poughkeepsie and the Mid-Hudson region.

CAS submitted a formal petition to the Poughkeepsie School District, requesting the name change of Samuel F.B. Morse School, particularly due to Morse’s well-known defense of slavery. They argued that Morse’s beliefs did not align with the district’s teachings and that, given the diverse community with many immigrant families and African American residents, it was crucial not to honor a figure who was anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, anti-Black, and racist.

On her show La Voz con Mariel Fiori on Radio Kingston, Fiori spoke with Katherine Hite, a Vassar College professor and co-founder of CAS. Hite mentioned that “many groups like ours are convincing their school districts to make changes,” emphasizing the importance of understanding what these historical figures' names reflect in our communities today. She added that even if the school has had the name since the early 20th century, “that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question it.” She reflected, “Who are the people behind the name? It’s not just about naming, but elevating that name, which brings us to the current process.”

The Committee and Its Report

Thanks to CAS and active community members, this process led to the creation of a Poughkeepsie School District board committee to evaluate these names. On October 23, 2024, a town hall meeting was held where committee members presented research on the historical figures whose names adorned the school buildings. The committee aimed to assess whether the impact of these figures aligned with the city’s current values and to suggest whether those names should be changed.

Several dozen residents attended the meeting, with many sharing their opinions. “I support the name change, or at least considering it and maintaining this dialogue and respectful debate,” said resident Peter Vanaken, who also suggested evaluating the names of middle and high schools. Some attendees came with concrete suggestions for new names or ideas for how the buildings should be renamed. One resident emphasized the importance of including women and people of color and suggested the board consider concepts like Equality Elementary School rather than focusing solely on individual names.

Before the public comment period, committee members shared their conclusions about each school name: George Clinton, Christopher Columbus, George W. Krieger, Samuel F.B. Morse, William W. Smith, and Dr. Charles B. Warring. For example, while Morse’s invention of the telegraph is historically significant, “he also used his influence to oppose immigration, stigmatize Catholics, and advocate for the continuation of slavery,” read committee member Carmen McGill.

The Survey

The committee listened carefully to all concerns, taking note of suggestions for new names and ideas to involve students in the process. Following the meeting, a survey was conducted to allow the community to propose names. The Board of Education made it clear that the name chosen for a school building is a powerful expression of community values, highlighting the importance of public involvement in the renaming process.

The survey remained open until February 5, and the results can be viewed here. On February 19, the final recommendations were presented to the board.

Fatimah Carmen Martínez Santiago, co-chair of the committee and a member of the Poughkeepsie City School Board, explained the process: “The Poughkeepsie School District is very diverse. Entering a school building with the name of a deeply racist person affects the students who occupy the building.” Ultimately, the committee's goal is to educate, study these historical figures, and make it clear when it is not appropriate to honor them with a school name due to problematic aspects of their legacy.

“There has been much discussion about proposed names—people who have made a good and positive difference in the community.” The survey highlighted names like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Frederick Douglass.

“We also considered indigenous Lenape names, the local area, a tree, the river, or bees, as Poughkeepsie is the city of bees,” Martínez added. With over 1,200 survey responses, she praised the diversity of opinions shared with the committee. “This shows that everyone has a particular idea they want to share, a particular thought,” she said. “These three current names were not good for our children. We agreed on that. I don’t want conflicts over the name we choose because what we all agree on is that the name should make our children feel valued and seen as part of this community.”

Finally, the names suggested by the committee were revealed, and the school board approved a resolution for the renaming process. Celebrating the Hispanic community’s cultural heritage, Roberto Clemente, the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame baseball player, will be the new name for Gov. George Clinton Elementary School. The Christopher Columbus administrative offices will be renamed Jane Bolin, born in Poughkeepsie and the first African American woman to join the New York City Bar Association and become the first Black female judge in the United States. Lastly, Samuel F.B. Morse School will be renamed Sojourner Truth, a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist born in Ulster County in 1797.

The school board now has until March 1 to submit the necessary documentation to the New York State Department of Education and officially request the name changes.