Notes on renaming Madison Memorial High School

Scott Girard:

Phillips was one of four names under consideration by the committee, which had narrowed an initial list of 24 proposals to a final set: Vel Phillips Memorial High School, Bruce Dahmen Memorial High School, Darlene Hancock Memorial High School and simply Memorial High School.

Throughout the process and Wednesday’s discussion, one of the largest questions facing the committee was whether to name the school after a person at all. While some committee members spoke to the dangers of using any person’s name, given that no person is infallible, others felt strongly that this was an opportunity to make a powerful statement.

“For years to come it can spark change and different things among students and represent something that ‘Memorial High’ simply can’t,” committee chair Julian Walters said.

A vote was first taken on the Memorial High School proposal, but it failed with five voting in favor and six against. Those in support of the Memorial proposal spoke to the public comments in support of that idea and their personal experience hearing from people who supported it.