Naming of School 18

The naming of school 18 will be something of far reaching impact for our neighborhood. For that reason I think it is something that the neighborhood should be broadly involved in. The potential names that have been surfaced out of a committee meeting on this subject.

The School 18 Renaming Committee met on Monday, June 26th and narrowed the suggested names list to the few names below. The committee meets again Thursday, July 6 at 6pm at the temporary location for School 18 (at the former Montessori Magnet School next to the Governor's Mansion on Eagle St.). Personally I find it unfortunate that decision is being hashed out in a location that is not in the neighborhood but this is an inevitable consequence of the school having been re-located for construction.

I think it is very important that people consider attending the next meeting. Cathy Fahey, our Council person, has encouraged attendance and suggested other members of the Delaware Avenue community be part of this process as well.

The list has been reduced to seven names but it is not too late to add other names. The goal of the committee is to submit three names for the School Board to consider at their August Board meeting.

1. Amistad Academy (Elementary)
Amistad means friendship in Spanish and conveys a sense of community. Amistad is also the name of a slave ship that is significant in African American history. The voyage fo the lave ship "Amistad and the court proceedings and diplomatic maneuverings that resulted from that voyage helped to bolster the abolitionist movement. The Spanish Dual Language Program is joining the School 18 community in January. Including a Spanish word is viewed as a way to reflect the merger of the two school programs as well as reflect the growing Hispanic community in Albany.
2. Young Achievers Academy
3. Delaware Amistad Academy
This name has the spanish word Amistad meaning "friendship" as well as the word "Delaware" which reflects the school's geographic location in the city.
4. Delaware Cultural Elementary
The word "cultural" is desirable to some because the school community includes families from many different cultures.
5. Garden Grove Elementary
The word "garden" reflects the ideas of growing, cultivating and tending, all of which help describe the mindful process of educating our youth. "Garden" also reflects the community garden that is a successful mainstay at the school. There is also a "Garden Street" adjacent to the school.
The word "grove" is taken from the historic name for the area, "Culling's Grove".
6. Bertha Street Elementary
Bertha Street is the official street address for School 18.
7. Delaware (Avenue) Elementary
This name describes the geographic location of the school within the city

Personally I would recommend naming the school the Arthut Mitchell Academy. Art Mitchell was an African American journalist and radio news commentator in the area for many years. He was the editor of the South End Scene, a commentator on WABY and worked for many years prior to his retirement at Allegeny Ludlum Steel. He died perhaps 10 years ago. He was a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League and a scholarship was named after him. While I think some of the other names - such as Culling's Grove - would be nice, I think some of the other names - such as Amistad Academy - would not be best for the school. While the name may translate in Spanish as "Friendship" it would translate in the minds of average people as "slave ship". That would not be a positive name for the school and it would be one that we would always have to explain to justify.