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July 16, 2012

East End parents: Change Second District’s name

CNHI

VERNON TOWNSHIP — Built on land donated by the family of Harm Jan Huidekoper, one of Meadville’s most prominent early citizens, a three-story brick building on the northwest corner of South Main and Linden streets in downtown Meadville was “variously known as the ‘Second District,’ ‘South District,’ ‘South Ward’ and ‘Huidekoper’ school,” according to the 1938 Sesquicentennial Edition of The Meadville Tribune-Republican.

The three-story structure was demolished in 1929 to make way for the modern brick structure that still bears the name Second District Elementary School. Occupied in February 1930, Second District quickly became famous as the only elementary building in the city to have a gymnasium.

Eighty-three years later, a group of parents whose children will be attending Second District as a result of the recent closing of East End Elementary School presented a request to Crawford Central School Board.

“Since our school was closed, we want to know if the name of the school can be changed to avoid labels and to get a fresh start,” Patty Fiely told board members during their monthly work session Monday night.

President Jan VanTuil said that any process put into place for changing the name must be handled through Superintendent Charlie Heller and urged that children attending the school be involved in that process. The group of approximately half a dozen parents quickly agreed.

While Heller noted that there should be no legal problems with changing the name as long as the proper paperwork is submitted by the district to Pennsylvania Department of Education, Dave Dickson, the district’s supervisor of plant and transportation, struck a cautionary note. “The name is literally etched in stone,” Dickson said, referring to its prominent placement in multiple locations on the building’s facade.

Fiely stressed that her group is interested in getting both faculty and students involved in the search for a new name.

The ultimate decision on any change lies with the school board.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the search for a new name is invited to contact Fiely at pfiely1@zoominternet.net.



Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.

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