Let's break out the cheese amd crackers?? You lose Paul Lawerance Dunbar, William H. Lemmel and Roland Patterson but gain Mary Ann Winterling, an unknown beyond the halls of Bentalou Elementary.

I got it, lets rename West Baltimore Middle, Little Melvin Middle. He is credited with changing the direction of west Baltimore and his impact is still being felt today. His "business" also help make March Funeral business the sucess it is and March got a school named after him.

There was a time when schools were named for people that everyone knew, presidents, civic leaders and such. Now they are named according to popular whim. I wonder if somewhere in this country will we see a MJ School of the Arts?

It certainly sounds to me that Mary Ann Winterling was a civic leader. To see her school through 35 years of social and educational change while ensuring a high quality education for students is something that should be honored. With over 200 schools in the district, certainly we can honor one of our own who truly deserves it.

Here's what I don't understand:

At the last Board Meeting, Commissioner Van Hook voted against the school naming policy because he didn't understand the context behind "prioritizing" historical names. He made specific mentions of William H. Lemmel and Harriet Tubman as he argued that the School Board was failing to establish a rigid naming standard.

However, not twenty minutes earlier, he exclaimed the virtues of renaming Mary Ann Winterling Elementary because some teachers came to pronounce their support.

I'm absolutely sure that Ms. Winterling was a wonderful person who made an incredible impact on students and the community. But does she rise to the level of William H. Lemmel or Harriet Tubman? If not, why discredit the school naming policy twenty minutes after supporting the very issue he claimed would be a problem?

Commissioner Van Hook's logical inconsistency is baffling at best, hypocritical probably, and outright pandering at worst.

The schools are in trouble if the Board Members only accept school-based choice when it's politically convenient (i.e. supporters show up to exclaim their support). Ultimately, there's evidence of a lack of critical thinking behind Commissioner Van Hook's position and respective votes.

The way things are at BCPSS, if this woman survived that and was successful in the midst of constant turmoil she was a hero. After all, I'm sure the school system didn't treat her right while she was alive, the least they can do is honor her in death. That's what North Avenue does, they don't celebrate their own until they're dead! I have NEVER seen the Superintendent say thank you, hang in there, we'll get it done and mean it. I worked there for years. It's sad.over a decade.

What a fitting tribute. I think it's wonderful that a school is being named for someone who actually had a direct impact on it.

I am sorry I know who Harriett Tubman is but can someone share who William Lemmel was and why he is an important historical figure?

Mary was an outstanding person who showed kindness to everyone who entered her builidng. Glad to see the neighborhood was willing to change the name from a geographic reference to honor the one person who had the most impact on that school.

Mary was an outstanding person who showed kindness to everyone who entered her building. Glad to see the neighborhood was willing to change the name from a geographic reference to honor the one person who had the most impact on that school.

@gp - I agree with you there are a lot of questions in what they all do. I haven't checked their voting records but I would bet there are Board members who vote with the CEO's recommendations 100% of the time. And when there is dissentation there is little discussion. I have often heard the Board accused of making their decisions before they come to the public meeting.

But back to the topic.. I am sure to community members that Ms Winterling was a wonderful person BUT its like revisionist history were past notables and achievements are wiped out for the sake of a current whim. I wonder what percentage of the community really cared what the school was named BUT the Board gave in becasue 10 or so people showed up to express their opinions?

since 1974 when she died in March of cancer. She saw the school through integration, then took the job of principal in 1980.

This reads as if she died in '74, then took the principal's job in '80.

My grammar, admittedly is horrible, and I'm not even that familiar with parts of speech, but wasn't this written incorrectly? By someone that reviews education?

i am going to donate $175,700,00.00 to this school. i was a student there in the 90's and i owe a great deal to this woman. i remember my teacher said " you will not amount to be nothing, but a little street rat and a convict". true story her name was ms. cooper she smelled like a pack of Newport 100's and wore black leather pants to school. and ms. mary said" that i would prove them wrong and become a millionaire one day as sure as the day my time time comes to leave this earth". i left baltimore and now own half of a billion dollar shipping company and i owe it to myself and ms. mary to give that school $1.7 million dollars.