Lee Renaming Committee expected to start meeting in Dec. after final member approved

It’s been two months since the renaming committee for Lee Elementary School was approved by the Columbia Public School district’s Board of Education.

It’s been one month since community members were able to apply to be on the committee.

The Board of Education is expected to approve the final committee members during its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The Board of Education approved an original list of 13 members on Oct. 18 after 10 of the members were randomly drawn, but one of the members chosen was unable to commit to the committee, according to Michelle Baumstark, CPS spokesperson.

Baumstark said another member was drawn at random, and that’s the member the BOE is expected to approve.

Once the final member is approved, the committee will most likely start meeting in December, Baumstark said. Then, the process to change the school’s name will be able to move forward.

Baumstark said opening school name submissions to the community will likely start in January or February, but the committee will need to discuss the naming process and determine its next steps first.

As far as the stone lettering Robert E. Lee’s name on the school is concerned, Baumstark said how to remove it, or if it will be removed, will be discussed after the naming committee recommends to change the name and the BOE has to approve the name change.

Baumstark said that although there have been no discussions about the cost estimate of the signage, the building is slated for renovation and any signage changes may be more cost-effective if they are done at the same time as the renovation.