Board approves two elementary school renamings, retains two others

The Charlottesville City Schools board approved a set of recommendations from its naming review process, voting separately to rename Burnley Moran Elementary to Sunrise Elementary and Johnson Elementary to Tall Oaks Elementary. The board also voted to retain the names Jackson Via Elementary and Greenbrier Elementary.

Each change was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote during the meeting; the public transcript records the ayes but does not include a roll-call tally. Superintendent Dr. Gurley presented the recommendations and board members who participated on naming committees thanked volunteers and committee members for their work.

During the public comment period, Chuck Moran, a great-nephew of the now-former namesake, expressed mixed views about the overall naming process: he said he supported the Sunrise name for the Burnley Moran campus but criticized the internal research memos used earlier in the review. Moran asked the division to return the portrait of Burnley Moran to his family and requested removal of internal research documents from public circulation.

Board members acknowledged committee work and thanked participants; motions to rename and to retain names were carried without extended debate.