Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

EDUCATION New DeKalb schools named after Obama, Lewis Board of education divided over new school names, naming process by R. Scott Belzer sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com T wo new elementary schools in DeKalb County will be named after President Barack Obama and Congressman John Lewis following a contested board of education meeting July 11. The board unanimously voted to name the former Terry Mill Elementary School, located at 797 Fayetteville Road, and replacement school at the Clifton Elementary site, located at 3132 Clifton Church Road, the Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology. The school will be the first in Georgia named after Obama and will cost the district $23 million. It is expected to open January 2017, according to DeKalb school officials. The school has a projected enrollment of 715 with a 900-seat capacity. The renaming comes at the suggestion of residents and leadership in DeKalb’s District 3 region, represented by board member Michael Erwin. “President Obama’s commitment to education demonstrates an understanding of the roles of parents, teachers, and students,” Erwin said. “He knows the most dedicated teachers and most supportive parents can make a difference if students show up, pay attention, and apply themselves to the fullest extent possible.” Erwin served on the school naming committee alongside 22 local church leaders, parents, staff, students, principals and regional superintendents to help make the school’s naming a possibility. According to Erwin, possible names for the school included the chosen name, East Atlanta Elementary Magnet School of Technology and Cliff View Elementary Magnet School of Technology. “I had the vibe this name would celebrate the pride of our students and our community and bring unity to the area as they come together at Terry Mills and go on to [the new school at the Clifton site],” Erwin said. “The community has been involved in this process for the past three years. At one time, the community submitted a 1,000 name petition to get this process started.” DeKalb Superintendent Stephen Green said the president, and school by proxy, will “embody the values of a strong family, hard work, and education as the means of getting ahead.” “These values are reflected in the DeKalb County School District and are the keys to college and career readiness,” he said. The decision to name a new school after Lewis, who is currently serving as U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district and a noted civil rights leader, was not made as easily. The John Robert Lewis Elementary School is set to be temporarily housed at the former International Student Center, located at 2383 North Druid Hills Road. The permanent location will eventually be at the newly acquired Skyland property in Brookhaven, located along Skyland Trail NE. School officials estimate the facility will cost around $30 million and house 900 students. Projected enrollment for the temporary facility is 394 students from Montclair Elementary as part of addressing overcrowding in the Cross Keys cluster. Board member Marshall Orson, who presented the item to the board of education, said Lewis was an ideal person to name a school after. “John Lewis has committed his life to the causes of civil rights and equal justice,” Orson said. “Every day, the students at John Robert Lewis Elementary and throughout DeKalb will be reminded that education is a path for a better life, that commitment to a cause beyond one’s self is a virtue, and that the content of a person’s character is the truest measure of an individual.” Board member Stan Jester took issue with how the naming process took place, citing violations of district regulations and an undersized naming board made up of 10 people. According to Jester, the naming committee did not meet enough times or take enough input from community stakeholders in Brookhaven. “This breaks every policy, every regulation that we have when it comes to naming schools,” Jester said. “I’ve asked [Marshall] to include the community and not name the Skyland school in this. This is DeKalb pushing something on the Brookhaven community. This is about local control. Do you believe this is the name the Brookhaven community would choose for its elementary school?” Orson, who headed the naming committee, said he included representatives from both communities. This included Davis Schaefer, a representative from the Latin American Association. “I’m more than comfortable with this recommendation,” Orson said. “This is an iconic figure not only in Atlanta but the nation. For DeKalb to do something like this is both monumental and appropriate. We do this in a time where he can appreciate us honoring him.” Board member Joyce Morley took issue with Jester’s question, stating his denial of the name was racially fueled. Morley used general terms to hint Jester did not respect his colleagues, the children he represents or his community in DeKalb County. “What makes the Brookhaven community so different from any other community that they would deny John Lewis’s name?” Morley said. “We need to stop our stereotypical views. I’m satisfied with what [Orson] has done. The only reason there’s a problem with this name has nothing to do with the pretense that’s being presented.” Jester said race had nothing to do with his decision and that he was both disappointed and offended in the board for finding a non-existent issue.