Sumner School District Name Change: What Do You Think?

SUMNER, WA - After 125 years, the Sumner School District appears to have outgrown its name.

The district is considering changing its name to the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District because more families and school facilities are located in Bonney Lake, according to the district. The school board discussed the change at its March 15 meeting, and there's a public hearing scheduled for mid-April.

But as with any big change, reaction to the news is mixed. The district posted about the change on Facebook recently, and some were upset that the name change would be a blow to the history of the district; others were concerned that the change would cost too much.

"The name change would be a mistake and I can't believe there spending time on this. Sumner School District it shall remain," wrote James Wyatt Russell-Stickley on the post.

"Stupid waste of time and money. The people meeting and discussing the change surely are not on their own time," wrote Sara Wynn Hubard. "They are paid wages for this waste of time, and will be paid wages for all the future time spent deciding logos, what font to use, graphic design, etc. New signs will have to be made for all buildings, busses, and so on. It sounds like Bonney Lake has some snobs that don't like being called Sumner. Spend the money on education."

As far as the cost, the district says it will take a "phased approach" to changing things like stationary, logos, and bus decals. That means the district will replace items as they run out - so, for example, the district would cycle through all its "Sumner School District" stationary before ordering stationary with the new name.

And, the public will have ample time to weigh in. According to state law, the name can't be changed without a public hearing and a vote by the school board. The public hearing happens April 12 at 6 p.m. at the Central Administration Office, 1202 Wood Ave., Sumner.

Image via Sumner School District