What's in a Name?

It appears the sneaky attempt by Phoenix-Talent school officials to change the name of the school district and the names of the high school and middle school have gone over like the proverbial lead balloon:

Conversations with nearly three dozen others in the diner and elsewhere in the district turned up not one voice of support for the name change.

Rachelle Farly, a Phoenix High graduate, began circulating a petition this week. In three days, she had gathered 500 signatures. On Thursday, she was nearing 1,000. Farly said supporters plan to attend meetings to urge the name change be abandoned.

"This is hugely emotional for a lot of us because we have this history and it feels like they're trying to take that away from us," Farly said. "I'm starting to feel like the people who instigated this are embarrassed about our school district.

"They said this will unify our district and instill a sense of pride buy everyone I talk to says it will do the exact opposite."

The piece is behind a paywall, by the way.

Sneakiness and secrecy are typical of school districts. There is even a movement afoot to recall the school board.