Letters to the editor

Don't change the name

I would like to take this opportunity to express my opposition to the renaming of Kate Collins Middle School.
What is the real reason behind the desire to change- If it is to change the image of middle-school education in Waynesboro, then I would suggest that what takes place within the walls is more important that what name is written on the outside of the building.

The naming of schools in Waynesboro has always followed a process. Mr. Norcross should remember this because he and I were both on the committee that recommended the naming of William Perry Elementary School.

In naming a school, a committee is formed. Input is sought from the community. Study, discussion and effort to make a good decision may take longer than many may think. The recommendation of the committee is presented to the School Board in closed session and if not accepted goes back to the committee. Finally, the School Board acts. In all cases, when a school has been named for someone here in the city, there has been support from the city on the decision.

The support for the naming of Kate Collins Junior High School (it was changed to Middle School) was particularly strong from the old Basic City part of Waynesboro where Miss Kate taught and was principal of Wenonah School. She was an advocate for education on the East Side even before Waynesboro became a city in 1946. She remained an advocate for the rest of her life.

Miss Kate was one of the first female administrators in this area. At the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, every public school in Waynesboro had a female principal. If for no other reason than being a pioneer and superb role model for female administrators, she deserves to have the school named for her.

In my service to education in the city I met and got to know almost all of the educators from Waynesboro, Augusta County and Staunton for whom a school was named. I do not believe any proposal to drop the name of any school for any reason has ever been made by any of the three school divisions. Why does Waynesboro want to even consider such action now-

Such action would set a dangerous precedent. What school would be next to have its name changed- The Board and administration should endorse the process that has been successful over the years. It should show unity with the School Boards of the past. It should forget the idea that naming a media center for someone is comparable to naming a school for that person. Not everyone from the past is bad. Honor history. 

The Waynesboro Public Schools were built on the shoulders of giants. Miss Kate Collins was certainly one of them.

Jim Lunger
38 years working in Waynesboro schools
Waynesboro

Congratulations and thanks

Karen and I want to thank the people who helped our daughter, Lori Fortune Aleshire, achieve her recent accomplishment as Waynesboro High School's Head Volleyball Coach. We are very proud of her success, and feel blessed to have her as daughter. Throughout her life she has had some special people who coached her and we want to thank them.

As a father, I was one of her fist coaches and started her early in sports. I spent a lot of time with her. She was in Farm League, Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball; She was in J.O. Volleyball, YMCA and AAU Basketball and Augusta County All Star Softball. She played softball, basketball and volleyball at Waynesboro High School. Sometime she was playing three sports at one time.

Karen and I want to give special thanks to Chuck Ajemian, Don Haynes, John Spears, Wes Meeteer, Ollie Grant, Howard Curry, Ron Martin, Brian Lunsford, Ron Coulling and Steve Batagalia. They were her foundation to her success.

Special thanks to Pat Austin and Candace Kimmett for their time and special coaching, knowledge and encouragement. They taught her the game of volleyball and instilled their love of volleyball into Lori. She achieved many awards and accomplishments in volleyball, such as AA State Champions in 1996 and state player of the year. She was able to play volleyball at Elon College, which was a dream come true.

Special thanks to Sue Leonard, who was her college coach. Also we want to thank the staff at Waynesboro High School, Kate Collins, the School Board Office and Athletic Department.
Lori is talented, disciplined and motivated. She cares about her students and the young people she coaches. We know she will do her best to carry on Waynesboro High School's excellent volleyball program.

Lastly, we want to thank God for three wonderful children: Lori, Randall Jr. and Kristen. Karen and I have been blessed in so many ways.

John and Karen Fortune
Waynesboro