APPLETON (NBC 26) — Since former Lincoln Elementary School principal Ronald C. Dunlap passed away in 2019, the Appleton Area School District has been looking for a way to honor his legacy.
"It was decided that what made the most sense was naming his original elementary school where he was principal for 16 years after him," said Greg Hartjes, the AASD Chief Financial Officer.
The school district originally sent out a survey about renaming the school in February. Although Hartjes says 63% of the respondents to that survey were in favor of the renaming, the Board of Education decided to send out a second survey last week with expanded options.
"There was some issues that came forward with the actual board policy of renaming a facility in our district," Hartjes said. "The original policy was a little bit vague on how you go about renaming, so then ultimately the district decided let's redo the policy and as part of that policy came a piece on a survey."
The options included in the survey are:
- Retain the name Lincoln Elementary School
- Retain the name Lincoln Elementary School and recommend naming a different facility after Ronald C. Dunlap
- Rename the school Ronald C. Dunlap Elementary School – Home of the Lincoln Lions
- Rename the school Ronald C. Dunlap Elementary School – Home of the Lincoln Lions and recommend naming a different facility after Abraham Lincoln
- Rename the school Lincoln – Dunlap Elementary School
Each option will ask respondents to select from: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree.
Respondents can also fill out a paper copy of the survey at AASD Leadership Center 131 E. Washington Street, Suite 1A Appleton, WI 5491. You can also call to have a survey mailed to you by calling (920) 832-6128.
The survey closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 18. Only Appleton Area School District residents will be allowed to fill out the survey.
Hartjes says once the survey closes, it's possible that a decision may be made at the last board meeting in June but that the process may continue into July.
