The Prince William County School Board will revisit the decision to rename Mills E. Godwin Middle School in Dale City.
The governing board will discuss on April 6 its unanimous decision to rename the middle school after Dr. George Hampton, and naming a new elementary school near Minnieville and Spriggs roads in Woodbridge after 24-year-old fallen Prince William County firefighter Kyle Wilson.
“While we were patting ourselves on the back for our own wisdom we did not consider the consequences, that we stripped a school community for its own name,” said Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum. “Two weeks ago I failed Godwin Middle School. I should have done more to dial it back and should have called for more discussion.”
Potomac District School Board member Justin Wilk called the twice-elected Virginia Governor Mills Godwin a segregationist for his views on massive resistance during his time as the state’s Lt. Governor. Godwin, who was first elected as a Democrat and later as a Republican, changed his views on segregation in public schools and became known as the father of the state’s community college system.
Wilk said he stands behind the move to rename the school, and that he is open to discussing the remaining with teachers, students, and parents.
“Yes, Mr. Godwin was segregationist in the 1940s and 50s, but Mr. Wilk, this is where your history book ended,” said Godwin Middle School staffer Mary Jo Stoy.
Stafford County School Board member Scott Hirons, who attended Godwin, asked the School Board to right a wrong done to the school community.
“We did learn about Governor Godwin while where were there. My time at Godwin Middle School encouraged me to pursue public service…You guys denied the voice of the community in your actions, and when a process that is being conducted wrong it is your job to stand up and lead,” said Hirons.
Supporters of Hampton also spoke, urging the Board to stand by the name change decision.
“We’ve down this road before. The community asked school to be named after Faxie Burke, it wasn’t named after Faxie Burke, and they kicked down the road,” one man told the School Board. “We don’t want to have similar situations like we’ve had in Baltimore in Ferguson, but we don’t get a fair shake. When we didn’t get a fair shake after the school wasn’t named after Faxie Burke, did we go to Channel 4? Did we go to the media? No. We sucked it up.”
Godwin is located in the Neabsco District, overseen by School Board member Diane Raulston.
“If we rescind the vote it says goodbye to Mr. Hampton; it says goodbye to Mr. Wilson. This process starts over. At what point in time does it stop?” she asked.
