The Board of Education of Charles County at its Nov. 12 meeting approved for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) to move forward with the renaming of General Smallwood Middle School. The renaming was first suggested to the Board in February 2024 by community members concerned with the school bearing the name of General William Smallwood. According to the Archives of Maryland, Smallwood was governor of Maryland from 1785 to 1788 who owned a plantation in Charles County with 56 enslaved persons.

Following community engagement about a potential renaming of Smallwood, updates to the Board from staff about the school’s namesake, its history and community feedback received, the Board approved for CCPS to move forward with the renaming process. Board of Education Policy 7230 outlines the school renaming process. Click here to review the policy.

The policy also outlines the formation of a school renaming committee, including criteria on who may serve on the committee. The school renaming committee will review, evaluate and recommend to the Board alternate name recommendations. The committee will consider submitted names and present options to the Board next spring. CCPS is in the process of looking for community members interested in serving on the committee. Information about the selection process, including who is eligible to serve, is posted on the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com.

School name submissions must meet the following criteria established under Board Policy 7230. Name submissions that do not meet the criteria below will not be considered by the committee.

1. Name of geographic feature of or location in Charles County, as long as the name is widely recognized to relate to the area in which the facility is located and, if the geographic name contains the name of an identified person, the name meets the provisions of the policy concerning a person’s name.

2. Name other than a person or geographic feature or location that the Board deems appropriate, as long as that name does not conflict with current Board policies, core values or curricular objectives. (Board of Education core values are linked here on the CCPS website).

3. Name of person, as long as the person has been deceased for at least 10 years and had made a demonstrated contribution to the community, county, state or nation that exemplifies the current core values of the Board and the community.

CCPS will accept school name recommendations through 11:59 p.m., Friday, Jan. 3. Anyone interested in recommending a name for consideration must provide written documentation, not to exceed one page (front and back), with information on the significance of the proposed name.

School name recommendations can be submitted:

• Electronically using this form. Supporting documentation must be uploaded to the form in a downloadable format.
   
• By mail to Shelley Mackey, School Naming Committee Liaison, Charles County Public Schools, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD, 20646.
  • Mailed submissions must include supporting documentation. Submitted materials should be photocopies.
     
• By email to smackey@ccboe.com. Email submissions must include supporting documentation.

Recommendations made on CCPS social media accounts will not be considered. Additionally, because the Board approved for a renaming of General Smallwood Middle School the school system will not accept the current school name as a recommendation for either renaming committee or Board consideration.

The school renaming committee will screen and recommend names to the Board. The Board will make the final selection after the committee presents its recommendations. The committee may hold public hearings to gather additional name recommendations and gather community input on proposed names and suggestions.

CCPS has an overview of the General Smallwood Middle School renaming process on its website at https://www.ccboe.com/community/renaming-general-smallwood-middle-school. The webpage will be updated as the school system moves forward with the renaming process. 

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).