Duval County

Kirby-Smith Middle School in Jacksonville to finalize possible renaming options Monday night

By Ryan Nelson, Action News Jax
By Ryan Nelson, Action News Jax

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kirby-Smith Middle’s School Advisory Council (SAC) will meet Monday night at 6 p.m. to finalize possible naming options to be voted on by constituents in a matter of weeks.

Kirby-Smith is one of nine Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) undergoing a nine-step renaming process, and one of six schools on the list named in honor of Confederate officers.

The name changes are not guaranteed.

Kirby-Smith is in ‘Step 3’ of the process, in which SAC finalizes up to five name recommendations to be voted on by stakeholders.

‘Step 4’ includes ballots being made available for stakeholders to vote on a preferred name.

Community balloting for Kirby-Smith will be open from March 15 to March 29.

SAC members are scheduled to cast individual votes on April 5.

The list of schools under consideration was expanded to nine in August after former school board member, Ashley Smith-Juarez, raised concerns about Andrew Jackson and Jean Ribault’s treatment of indigenous people.

Action News Jax reported in February when Jean Ribault’s living descendants denied claims the French colonizer had hurt or harmed Native Americans.

The schools under consideration are:

  • Joseph Finegan Elementary
  • Stonewall Jackson Elementary
  • Jefferson Davis Middle
  • Kirby-Smith Middle
  • J.E.B. Stuart Middle
  • Robert E. Lee High
  • Andrew Jackson High School
  • Jean Ribault High School
  • Jean Ribault Middle School

RELATED STORIES:

Community discussion to rename nine DCPS schools starts this month

Stakeholders debate whether to rename Robert E. Lee H.S. on Wednesday night

Descendants of Jean Ribault speak out against renaming of Ribault Middle and High Schools

Cox Media Group

Most Read