Bethel Debates
Name of Its School
By Chris Costanzo

About 60 people came to a special Bethel school board meeting on Tuesday, May 1, to discuss changing the name of the Bethel schools. After hearing public comment for over two hours, the board announced that it will choose a new name at its June 5 meriting.

Earlier, on March 19, the board had proposed uniting the Bethel Elementary School and the Whitcomb Jr./Sr. High School under a single name "The Albert Whitcomb School," but postponed its decision to gauge public reaction after the story appeared in the press.

At the next board meeting on March 29, school board members, having heard no opposition, approved the change. Subsequent adverse public reaction, however, impelled the board to call the May 1 special meeting to reconsider the issue.

School board chair David Allen explained that the move was part of the board’ program to attract outside students. Eliminating the town name from the school might make others more comfortable coming to the Bethel schools, he said.

But several members of the public objected. Some opined that school quality and academic excellence would attract students, and that the school name was not significant in that respect. Former school board member Charri Robinson called attention to the short time span in which the issue was decided.

"I don’t call it fair to change our history in just 15 days," she said.

Barbara Wood, who sat on the Bethel school board for 24 years, said she was particularly upset by the elimination of "Bethel" from the school name just to attract outside students. "Is our reputation so bad? You’ve insulted the town and you’ve insulted each of us. It’s a disgrace," she said.  

Susan Rogers was so choked with emotion that she had to pause a few times while speaking. She said she was proud of the school and of the town, and added that she was upset at the way the name change was done. "I had no idea it was happening until I learned of it from the students," she said.

Indeed, the way it was done seems to have struck a sour note. Student Melissa Kendall presented a student petition against the name change. She summed up the attitude of many when she said, "It’s not fair to the school and community because nobody knew."

Robert Gaiko agreed that the main issue was "miscommunication" between the school board and the public.

There ensued considerable discussion about the board’s responsibility to ensure that the public be informed of sensitive issues such as a name change. Board members noted that school board minutes are available on the web, and that all school board meetings are duly warned and open to the public. Allen also noted that the student council has an advisory seat on the school board thereby facilitating communication with students.

School board members Kristin La Framboise and Deitre Feeney assured the public that the board’s decision to change the school name was not taken lightly, but that it is not always so easy to judge public concerns.

La Framboise pointed out that when they held an informational meeting to discuss the $4.5 million budget almost nobody showed up.

"It makes one wonder what triggers public interest," she said. Trouble with Albert

Many seemed willing to accept the extension of the name "Whitcomb" to encompass the whole school, but were uncomfortable with "Albert Whitcomb."

Allen said one possibility would be to adopt the name "Whitcomb Schools" to include Whitcomb Elementary School, Whitcomb Junior High School, and Whitcomb High School.

He asked for a show of hands of those who oppose dropping the name "Bethel." The result was half-and-half. As for omitting "Albert," the show of hands was overwhelming in favor of doing so.

There was also much said in support of the school board. Gaiko opined that the board members were doing a "great job." Davis Dimock noted that if the school population keeps dropping there won’t be any school at all, and if a name change might make tuition students more comfortable coming to Bethel then he is for it. Beth Umba thanked the board for all its efforts, and Keith Bollman said that the public was being too tough on the board, whose members have spent much time on the welfare of the school.

In the end it was the opinion of several townspeople and of school board members that the issue had been beneficial in stirring public interest and generating dialogue with the board. The board then rescinded the name "Albert Whitcomb School," and Allen announced that the board would consider a new name at its June 5 meeting.