Godwin renaming to top half million dollars

Changing the name of Mills Godwin Middle School could cost more than a half million dollars.

An email obtained by Potomac Local from Prince William County Associate Superintendent for Finance & Support Services David Cline to memebrs of the School Board outlines the costs:

The following are estimates regarding potential costs associated with the renaming of Godwin Middle School. Each of the items should be considered as options and should considered separately. The estimated costs and timeline are broken down into three areas for consideration:

1. The following items are impacted by the name change for the school and do not take into account additional changes to the school mascot and/or school colors

a. Replace metal letter name on front of building – $2,000. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

b. Replace static sign on electronic message board – $3,500. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

c. Stamped concrete and brick sign in loop at entrance to school. This sign was in place prior to the addition of the electronic message board, and is not an item that would be included for a new school. Recommendation is to remove the sign and replace with
additional landscaping – $1,000. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

d. Repaint Gymnasium to cover wall writing/mural containing school name – $7,500. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

e. New Gymnasium wall mural – $5,000 to $20,000 depending upon size, text, and scope of mural. Is not required for school opening if d. above is accomplished, could be added at a later date.

f. Wood Gymnasium Floor -$200,000. The floor currently contains a school logo at midcourt and the mascot name at each end. The floor was sanded/resealed two years ago and cannot be re-sanded again, but must be replaced. Since the school name is not actually on the floor, it could be done at a later date. The life expectancy of the gym
floor is an additional eight years. Replacement of the gym floor cannot be accomplished prior to the start of the next school year.

g. Replace/repaint main hall mural – $5,000-$20,000 depending upon size, text, and scope of mural. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

h. Replace/repaint auxiliary gym mural – – $5,000-$20,000 depending upon size, text, and scope of mural. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

i. Dedication Plaque – $3,000. This is an optional item as the school does not have a
dedication plaque. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by midAugust.

j. Plastic sign insert for Cafeteria Menu – $100.

k. Replace athletic uniforms (without change in school colors) – $50,400. Orders for fall
sports must be placed by June 15 in order to have in place by the start of the season.

l. Replace staff shirts – $4,000

m. Replace health and PE shirts for students – $9,000

n. Replace school spirit shirts for all students – $9,000

2. The following additional items are impacted with the change of the school mascot:

a. Replace ADA and Interior door signage – $23,000. The attached sign for each interior
door has a mascot/logo on it. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

3. The following additional items may be impacted with a change in school colors:

a. Additional costs for athletic uniforms/equipment (football pants, helmets) – $16,000.
Orders for fall sports must be placed by June 15 in order to have in place by the start of
the season. (Assumes color will be standard/stock and not custom.)

b. Stage curtains in cafeteria – $8,000 to replace in black. Order must be placed by June 1 in order to have in place by mid-August.

c. Accent floor tile replacement in classrooms – $120,000. The floor tile was replaced in 2010 during the school renewal and the school colors were incorporated into the color scheme. The school tiles have a life expectancy of 15 more years. They could be replaced during the next school renewal. Replacement cannot be accomplished prior to
the start of the next school year.

Last month, the School Board moved to rename Godwin after Dr. George C. Hampton, a local philanthropist. In the same vote, the Board moved to name a new elementary school near the intersection of Minnieville and Spriggs Roads in Woodbridge after fallen Prince William County Firefighter Kyle Wilson.

The decision, at first appeared as a great compromise between two camps of people who wanted the elementary school named after Hampton or Wilson.

The Board tonight is expected to revisit their decision after Brentsville District School Board member Gil Trenum said he “failed” constituents with his vote to rename Godwin.