To the editor:

I have read about the committee that has been formed to make recommendations regarding the renaming of the junior high schools due to the conversion to the middle school format.

It is hard for me to believe that time will be spent by school board members to discuss renaming schools instead of focusing, for instance, on what goes on in the classroom and how we can continue to improve test scores, retain and attract qualified teachers and administrators in the district, and class sizes.

Given the current financial situation that all school districts are in I feel that the amount of money spent to put up signs for the new names is not an effective use of resources. There will be enough money spent to change the “Junior High” at the end of each name to “Middle School,” but that will be less than changing the complete name. I’m sure there will be significant dollars spent on stationery, advertising, band and other school uniforms, etc., on top of the signs, too.

Finally, the confusion in changing the names will be unavoidable. If we change one of the names to Eisenhower Middle School, which one is that? The clarification that is likely to follow will be “you know, West Junior High.” I think the confusion will be even greater for people living outside of Lawrence, too.

Bottom line, spend the money it takes to change the signage to the middle schools and focus on what is important to the students’ education!