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Franklin County commission asks school board to retain FCHS athletic name 'Rebels'
Summary
On Sept. 21 the commission adopted a nonbinding resolution asking the Franklin County Board of Education to retain the Franklin County High School athletic name “REBELS.” The minutes record an 11–1 vote with Commissioner Helen Stapleton opposed.
Franklin County commissioners voted Sept. 21 to ask the elected Franklin County Board of Education to retain the Franklin County High School athletic nickname “REBELS.” The nonbinding resolution was placed on the agenda, a motion to retain the name carried, and the minutes record an 11–1 outcome with Commissioner Helen Stapleton casting the lone recorded dissent.
The motion was introduced by Commissioner David Eldridge and seconded for floor consideration. Commissioner Barbara Finney moved the substantive request that the county urge the BOE to keep the existing nickname; the motion passed on voice vote with the recorded tally.
Why it matters: The question of school team names has been debated nationally and locally in recent years; a county commission’s resolution is advisory to the independent school board, which retains the legal authority to change school names and mascots. The commission framed its action as a request to the BOE rather than a directive; minutes explicitly recognize the BOE as the policymaking body for schools.
What happens next: The clerk will transmit the commission’s resolution to the Franklin County Board of Education for consideration. The BOE may accept, reject or otherwise act on the request in its own meeting; the commission’s resolution does not itself change school policy.
The record: Meeting minutes show the commission adopted the request and included finding language urging the BOE to retain the name. The minutes record the roll call/voice-vote tally as AYES: 11, NAYS: 1 (Commissioner Helen Stapleton).
