Though the initial proposal to change the name of Madison High School is seven years old, the Portland Public School Board is responding to recent, vigorous community energy demanding social and racial justice. With a strong district commitment and an explicit policy of using an equity lens in all future decision-making, as well as having a building remodel in the works, now is the perfect and practical time to make this name change.
A petition to rename Madison collected more than 4,300 signatures of support. A survey of Madison students showed that 85% are in favor of replacing James Madison as their figurehead. Changing the name of the school is long overdue since every year, hundreds of students graduate from an institution that has continued to honor and uplift the legacy of a man who tortured, split families apart, and enslaved the ancestors of today’s American citizens.
Image showing results in support from the petition to rename Madison High School
Pie-Chart showing the results of the 2019 poll gauging student support for changing the name (426 student responders, representing 39% of the student body that year):
In addition to all this support from students and community, staff and alumni joined by submitting letters of support of the name change to the PPS School Board of Directors, see below.
Teacher/Staff Letter of Support: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UDogllHwB08CDY4kdOO4arYvR5N9JRC6mcRffnigVCA/edit?usp=sharing
Alumni Letter of Support:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AXs9hiuW9yApTHzVL_kWVtc3J-Dc6dt0nB0uNDrcQfU/edit?usp=sharing
A new name at this time is completely fitting as students will be entering a remodeled building with other modern updates as early as fall of 2021. A name reflecting a dedication to social justice is better introduced with a new opening rather than later, after norms and routines have been established. For this reason, now is an ideal time to change the name: we will have new buildings, new hallways, and new fields, and we want the name that is emblazoned on them to be uplifting and inspiring. The Portland Public School Board made a decision in August of 2020 to include Madison in the initial phase of renaming its buildings and facilities, thus becoming the second PPS high school to be renamed, after Wilson High School.
