Although the walls, students and faculty will be new, James Blair Middle School will retain its old name, a testament to Williamsburg’s educational history.
Per Virginia Department of Education protocol, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board was tasked earlier this month with officially renaming the new middle school on Ironbound Road, according to agenda documents.
While the school could choose to either take on a new name or keep the old one, the School Board unanimously agreed Tuesday the school should keep its historic name.
The school is named after James Blair, a founder of the College of William & Mary.
Board Chair Kyra Cook emphasized at the meeting Tuesday that the renaming process was “just an administrative process” in response to the Virginia Department of Education’s guidance that the school would be considered “new,” and therefore would need to be officially named again.
“It was really just a formality,” Cook said.
Many residents agreed that “James Blair” should stay, Superintendent Olwen Herron said.
After a meeting on Sept. 7, the division released an online survey asking for input on the school’s name and redistricting.
Of the 139 survey responses, 95 recommended the School Board keep the name, school spokeswoman Betsy Overkamp-Smith said.
Some residents suggested “Williamsburg Middle School,” Overkamp-Smith said. There were also several suggestions that “were not serious contenders.”
Moving forward, school administrators will choose the school’s mascots and colors before the school opens in September 2018.
