The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) School Renaming Committee seeks feedback on its name recommendations for General Smallwood Middle School. In November 2024, the Board of Education of Charles County moved forward with a vote to rename the school, following its school renaming policy, Board Policy 7230.
Following Board Policy 7230, the renaming committee presented three name recommendations to the Board at its Feb. 24 work session. The committee name recommendations are as follows and listed in no particular order:
Potomac Ridge Middle School.
West Charles Middle School.
West Side Middle School.
In its presentation to the Board, the committee shared its name submission review process, how it took a vote on each name submission provided by the community, and agreed it did not want to put forth recommendations for the names of persons. The committee emphasized its interest in providing the Board with name recommendations related to geographic locations. To hear the committee's presentation to the Board, visit the CCPS YouTube page.
The committee is hosting a virtual meeting on Zoom at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, to hear feedback about its name recommendations. Community members can follow the hearing online or join the Zoom using the link below. Feedback will only be accepted on the committee’s name recommendations; the committee is not asking for additional name recommendations to consider. Community members can also share feedback on the name recommendations by email to boardmail@ccboe.com.
Feb. 27 virtual hearing Zoom link:
https://ccboe.zoom.us/j/88332455333?pwd=rSzjJIanWa248f0ILQmb2cgvk8PMFO.1
Those interested in joining the virtual hearing must have an active Zoom account to log in and participate. During the hearing, committee members will review the presentation shared with the Board and listen to feedback from attendees. The chat will be moderated for questions and answers.
Historically, CCPS schools, centers and facilities are either named for a person, geographic location or region. Board of Education of Charles County Policy 7230 guides the school naming and renaming process. Following the policy, school names must meet specific criteria and model CCPS/Board core values, mission and goals.
The Board in 2023 revised Policy 7230 to include a detailed process it would follow to rename any existing CCPS facility or school. In recent years, the school system and Board have heard concerns from community members about current CCPS school names.
Visit https://www.ccboe.com/community/renaming-general-smallwood-middle-school to learn more about the renaming of General Smallwood Middle School.
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).