A committee tasked with reviewing the name of Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta has scheduled four more meetings, including a Thursday session to hear public input.
Atlanta school board Chairman Jason Esteves appointed the committee after roughly 200 Grady High students submitted a petition in February calling for the Midtown school’s name to be changed. The petition cited Henry Grady’s “staunchly racist ideology.” Grady, a former managing editor of The Atlanta Constitution, died in 1889.
A group of alumni who oppose renaming the school said they collected signatures from more than 600 people who feel the school should retain the Grady name, which they contend is well known and highly regarded.
The seven-member committee is led by Atlanta school board member Leslie Grant. Amir Farokhi, who represents District 2 on the Atlanta City Council, is also on the committee. Other members include a Grady High School assistant principal, an alumnus and a current student as well as neighborhood representatives.
The committee’s charge is to make a recommendation to the school board about whether the school should be renamed, and if so, what the new name should be. The school board would ultimately need to approve any change.
The committee will hold virtual “listening sessions” at 5 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Aug. 4 to hear from the public. Those who wish to address the committee must sign up to speak at least 10 minutes before the meeting.
The group also is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. on Aug. 11 and Aug. 18 to deliberate and make a recommendation.
The committee’s first meeting took place earlier this month.
All meetings can be viewed live on the school board’s Facebook page.
Those who wish to provide feedback on the name or suggest a new name for the committee to consider can do so online.
