NEW PALESTINE — A name says it all, so the saying goes. That’s why by the start of the 2024-25 school year officials with the Community School Corp. of Southern Hancock County hope to have an official new district name — New Palestine Community Schools.
After months of discussing the issue and bringing it to the school board for consideration in February, the board officially passed the name change measure with a 5-0 vote to get the lengthy name change process rolling.
“The decision to re-brand as New Palestine Community Schools stems from our desire to enhance the visibility and recognition of our educational brand,” Superintendent Lisa Lantrip said. “We believe this change will unite us under a recognizable banner.”
Lantrip officially brought the idea of the name change to the board last month, noting the community has always been immensely proud of New Palestine High School and the exceptional education it offers, and district officials want all their schools associated with that.
“With the introduction of New Palestine Community Schools, we are confident this pride will only grow stronger,” Lantrip said.
While the name change is now official, it’s going to take district officials several months to make other changes around the district, such as with official letterheads, on buses and with state officials.
“This will get us going,” Community Relations Director Craig Smith said. “It’s a rather lengthy process to get everything done, including all the proper paperwork with the state.”
While the board did vote unanimously in favor of the district name change, one resident, Katie Lewman, asked the board prior to the vote to hold off on the decision so community members could ponder the idea a little more.
“Have you polled people who actually live here?” Lewman asked the board. “I would ask that you would postpone the vote on that name until you have had the chance to actually talk to the people who live here.”
Lewman said she understood why the board wanted to make the change, but didn’t really care if many in the state can’t figure out where Southern Hancock is located on the map.
“I don’t really care what the name is, but I do care about the process,” Lewman said.
Lantrip noted district officials started the conversation of a name change nearly a year ago and did share the idea of a change with the community, including their leadership group.
“These people are members of our community including parents, people who no longer have kids in school and local business people here,” Lantrip said.
Board President Laura Haeberle read from a prepared statement that said, “We are pleased to announce effective March 12, our school corporation will be known as New Palestine Community Schools.”
Haeberle noted the change not only better reflects the geographical location, but also represents the idea of one community representing both Sugar Creek and Brandywine Townships.
“This change is more than just a modification of our corporation logo and signage, it’s a symbol of our dedication to the future of our school corporation,” Haeberle said. “The new name brings together the corporation’s rich history that has defined us while embracing the new opportunities ahead.”
Board member Dan Walker told those in attendance the idea of changing the district’s name is something they put a great deal of thought into.
“We didn’t take this decision lightly,” Walker said. “We believe in tradition, but as New Palestine grows, I can tell you with having a sixth and an eighth grader in the corporation, they aspire to be Dragons, and that Dragon brand is what they want to be a part of.”
The Dragons are associated with New Palestine, but not so much with Southern Hancock schools, Walker hinted.
He also noted it was important for the district to keep the word “community” in the corporation title to include Brandywine Elementary, which is several miles east of New Palestine.
“The only negative feedback I’ve seen was when someone asked about the cost of the change,” Walker said.
District officials estimated it will take around $8,000 to change the names on the side of the district’s buses, if not less, but other than that, there should not be much of a cost to make the official name change.
“It reminds me of when I used to coach Doe Creek football and people would ask me, ‘Where is that?’ and I would say we’re in Southern Hancock schools and they’d say, ‘Well, where is that?’ and then I’d say oh, we’re in New Palestine, and they’d say, ‘Oh, you guys have Frosty Boy and are good at football,’” Walker said.
Walker noted the board feels they are doing what the community wants in making the name change toward a more recognizable brand.
Officials noted the community can start seeing changes soon, with a full completion of the name change by the next school year when a new superintendent will also be in place.
“We started this marketing network change over a year ago with new branding,” board member Matt Ackerman said. “This is the board that pushed to make name changes with Doe Creek and Briar Creek.”
Those schools are now known as New Palestine Junior High School and New Palestine Intermediate School.
