In a recent survey, the Broadus Wood Elementary School Name Review Advisory Committee received 171 responses from community stakeholders with future name possibilities for the school. The top name suggestions were Broadus Wood, Earlysville, Buck Mountain, Rivanna/Rivanna River, Rainbow, and Bobcat Elementary School. Along with the request for name recommendations, the survey requested other feedback that might inform the committee as its moves forward in the name review process.
The committee will use this feedback along with other community input and research as it develops its list of five names that will go out in a third survey, which will ask participants to indicate a preferred name from that list. This process is part of a school naming review being conducted by a 14-member community advisory committee in accordance with a division-wide policy that requires a community review of all schools in the division that are named for an individual to ensure those school names reflect the division’s four values of equity, excellence, family and community, and wellness.
Ray Chrobak, a teacher and one of the committee’s co-chairs along with colleague Katie Breaud, explained of the process, “We were pleased to see so many community and student responses. Many responses not only gave a name suggestion, whether it was retaining the name of Broadus Wood or suggesting a new one, but explained the reasoning for their responses. This feedback will be extremely valuable in the committee's discussion.”
Student feedback has figured prominently into this name review, creating an opportunity for current Broadus Wood students to have a say in their school’s future name. Of their participation, Chrobak added, “Every class discussed the history of Broadus Wood Elementary and had an opportunity to respond and nominate names. It was really great to hear the students’ voices and perspectives. Their passion and exceptional critical thinking skills came through in the conversations.”
The committee is sharing the survey results in advance of a public meeting to be held virtually on November 30 at 6:30 p.m. At that meeting, which will be conducted over the Zoom video conferencing platform, community members will be able to offer comments and share their thoughts about the survey’s findings as well the name recommendations that have been sent to the committee.
Members of the community who would like to speak at the meeting may register by emailing SchoolNamingReview@k12albemarle.org no later than 9 a.m. on November 30. Those who would
like to watch a livestream of the session may do so at http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/schoolnamingreview.htm.
Immediately upon adjournment of the public session, the committee will have a working meeting at which they will discuss the feedback they have received. During that time, they will narrow the list of possible names to five, which again will be subject to community input. If the current name is among these, the committee will conduct research on Broadus Wood (1864-1932), who was a farmer and landowner in Earlysville. The school board’s naming review policy requires the advisory committee to seek to notify any family members of a school’s namesake as part of its process. Breaud and Chrobak said the committee welcomes any information from the public regarding the Wood family history or descendants.
Broadus Wood is the sixth school to undergo a naming review. Five reviews have already been completed by volunteer community advisory committees at ACPS, with the school board voting to change the name of four schools and to retain the name of another. Summaries of all completed reviews and those in progress are accessible from the school division’s School Names Under Review web page.
In addition to the upcoming public meetings, Breaud and Chrobak said the committee welcomes suggestions or questions about the review process at any time. All committee members can be emailed at SchoolNamingReview@k12albemarle.org.
CONTACT: Helen Dunn, Legislative and Public Affairs Officer
PHONE: 434-249-8379