NY Elementary School Renamed for Obama

Only three weeks have passed since Barack Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States, and the kids at Ludlum Elementary School in Long Island, NY, wanted to make their own history—they convinced the school board to rename their building Barack Obama Elementary.

Officials at the school district say they think the school may be the country's first to be named after the president-elect, although similar efforts to rename schools, parks, and streets are under way elsewhere.

At a meeting on November 20, the Hempstead School District Board of Education unanimously voted to change the name of Ludlum to Barack Obama Elementary School , and the change took immediate effect November 21.

“The election of Barack Obama to the presidency is a historic moment for our nation,” says Acting Superintendent of Schools Joseph Laria. “I am pleased that the Hempstead School District has marked this occasion by renaming one of our school buildings for this remarkable leader who represents opportunity and change.”

Barack Obama Elementary has about 460 mainly black and Hispanic students and the election outcome was a great source of pride for them, Laria adds. The decision to change the school’s name was initiated by fifth grade students who engaged in a pre-election mock debate involving the presidential candidates and their running mates. After the debate, they asked school officials to consider a name change. Some kids even read essays about Obama and the election at the school board meeting.

The school district has ordered a new sign and stationary, and the administration is planning a formal name-changing ceremony shortly after the new year.