Racine debates renaming of Red Apple School, in honor of astronaut Laurel Clark
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A lot of thought is going into the renaming of a school in the Racine Unified School District to honor one of the only female astronauts in history. Monday night, a committee established to gauge the community's thoughts held the first of many meetings.
One board member pointed out that renaming a facility in the district is something that must only be done if there's great importance to do so. For now, the board's open and listening to see if that's the case.
While it's clear what Red Apple School will look like after construction's complete at 10th and Center, what families at the present location don't know is what this new building will be called.
"I'm asking once again -- keep Red Apple, Red Apple," said one concerned Racine resident.
A handful of opponents showed up at a Monday night meeting, talking about the history of Red Apple Environmental School, which opened in 1974, and continues today as a STEAM school. Some would like to name the new building for Astronaut Laurel Clark who grew up in Racine.
"And there have been less than 100 women, as far as I’m aware, in world history, that have been astronauts, and she's one of the first. I mean, she's a pioneer. If we want to encourage girls in science in that area that they have typically been left out of, I thought that made sense," said RUSD Board Member Scott Coey.
Coey listed off other schools that have changed names over time.
"Garfield. Garfield has a different name on it, and it wasn't even originally Garfield School, it was the Fifth Ward School," said Coey.
A survey, circulated throughout the community, found most support renaming Red Apple School after Laurel Clark, but those with a connection to Red Apple were strongly opposed.
"That community is predominantly African American. They feel, you know, they been getting in contact with me, I talk to them often. People in that community, they feel it should be named after anyone, it should be named after African American," said April Harris, RUSD board member.
Clark is one of seven astronauts killed in the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster.
"As soon as he mentioned that name, I knew where I was, what I was doing right at that time when I heard about the disaster happening," said Susanne Kelly-Johnson, 4th grade teacher at Red Apple School.
Teacher Susanne Kelly-Johnson supports a hyphenated name: The Red Apple-Laurel Clark School.
"I would really like to leave it, to leave it there for the legacy, because we are a family. We say, 'Once an apple, always an apple,'" said Kelly-Johnson.
This RUSD committee does plan to hold additional meetings later this month and invites the public to give their input.