Hearing Thursday To Discuss Renaming John Witherspoon School

PRINCETON, NJ — The public is invited to a hearing on Thursday morning where the Princeton Policy Committee of the Board of Education will discuss the possibility of renaming John Witherspoon Middle School.

The meeting will be held virtually through Zoom from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Residents are invited to participate during the virtual meeting or they can email their comments to the Board of Education at feedback@princetonk12.org.

The discussion and meeting were promoted after a Princeton High School graduate, Geoffrey Allen, created a petition to rename John Witherspoon Middle School. Read More: Princeton To Discuss Renaming John Witherspoon Middle School

"I feel like renaming the school will be the start of symbolic change and allow more efforts to change the school," said Allen, a 2019 graduate.

Allen's petition has just under 1,500 signatures.

"I look forward to what people have to say and the direction we are going. Not only with [Princeton] University, but the football teams are also changing names, this is the right way to go, so I am very happy," Board Member Debbie Bronfeld said. Read More: Princeton University Removes Woodrow Wilson's Name From School

To join the meeting on Thursday, use this link. The hearing will be recorded and made available on the Princeton Public Schools website and the district YouTube page, Princeton Public Schools Live Events.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.