By Andrew Hackmack
A crowd packed the Shaw Avenue School library for a board meeting on Nov. 24, and the meeting ended with a heated debate between a board trustee and community members.
The suggestion to rename the school was made by Cristobal Stewart, the newest member of District 30's Board of Education and a Clear Stream Avenue parent. The board has taken no formal action regarding a name change.
Peggy Robinson, the first to speak up at the meeting, said she had two children attending the school, as well as an older son who is serving in Iraq. "I don't want to have to tell him that the school he is so proud of, and has fond memories of, is even considering changing its name," Robinson said.
As was the case with other speakers, Robinson's comments received a loud round of applause.
Many speakers noted that the school's name is an integral part of its history: Since it opened in 1924, it has been known by no other name. "This is part of our history and it belongs to us," said Cathy Montefusco, a 30-year resident of Valley Stream and a former PTA president at Clear Stream Avenue.
Montefusco criticized Stewart for his proposal. "What it's about is respect, and we respect the name Clear Stream Avenue because it means a lot to a lot of people," she said.
Rosemary Miller, another past PTA president of the school, noted that Clear Stream Avenue is District 30's oldest building, and it took years just to get a sign out front. Her younger siblings and her children all went to the school. "We have a wonderful history at Clear Stream," Miller said.
Doreen Von Werne said that the school should be called Clear Stream Avenue "until the end of time." She has been a resident of Valley Stream for 59 years, and her three children attended the school. She told board members that she continues to support the local schools because of the great pride she has. "I haven't had a child in a Valley Stream school in 13 years," she said, "yet I'm out there every year voting for your budget."
Recently retired teacher Carl Riccobono also addressed the board. He taught at Shaw Avenue School for more than four decades, but he attended Clear Stream Avenue for kindergarten and first grade, and his seven children completed their elementary school careers there.
Riccobono's message was short but to the point. "Please, Clear Stream Avenue School," he said. "C-S-A, leave it."
Stewart attempted to address the concerns of the crowd, but his comments only served to make people angrier. "I appreciate the fact that some community members disagree with the suggestion," he said. "I understand where you're coming from. There is personal history you have attached to the school."
However, Stewart said, not everyone agrees that the school's name shouldn't be changed. Several people in the audience asked him where those people were, because no one at the meeting spoke in favor of renaming the school after Obama. Stewart was also asked how long he has lived in the community, a question he said was not relevant and did not answer.
Stewart said he welcomed the dialogue, and hoped the community could have a formal meeting to discuss a possible name change. With Stewart and audience members still arguing back and forth, the board members voted to adjourn the meeting, despite objections from community members.
Board President Ken Cummings said there had been a discussion at a school board work session a week earlier when the topic was introduced by Stewart, and that trustees had talked about what would need to be done to change a school name. However, Cummings said, renaming the school is not under serious consideration. "There is no plan at this point to do anything formally," he said.
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