New School Drops Mead From Name Broad Support For Change To Mt. Spokane High

Sat., Dec. 19, 1998

By Kevin Blocker kevinb@spokesman.com

Mt. Spokane has emerged from Mead’s shadow.

At the request of the student body, the school board removed the name Mead from the Peone Prairie school on Wednesday.

Students complained that Mt. Spokane-Mead High School’s name was too similar to 26-year-old Mead High School.

The school board based its unanimous decision on student, faculty and staff surveys at 2-year-old Mt. Spokane High.

Parent groups from both schools also gave a thumbs-up to the name change.

“I’m excited,” said senior Josh Cowart, student body president at Mt. Spokane. He told the board it was important for the Wildcats to distinguish themselves from Mead’s Panthers.

“We had to do this to get out of the shadow and create our own identity,” he said.

Of the 954 students completing surveys, 98 percent favored dropping Mead from the name. The change was supported by 71 percent of faculty members and staff.

“I always thought Mt. Spokane-Mead sounded awkward,” wrote one teacher.

Noted another: “I always thought this name was a bad idea. I’m glad this issue came about. We need to have our own identity so we can establish spirit and ownership.”

The school board originally wanted Mead incorporated into the name so people statewide would know the high school is part of Mead School District, said board president Bob Olson.

Students entering the $23 million school are now greeted by an engraved “Mt. Spokane-Mead High School” sign. In place of “Mead” four mountain peaks will be added, officials said.

The estimated cost for that project is expected to be less than $2,500 and will come from the district’s maintenance budget.

School officials won’t have to change letterhead or other school-related materials because they never had the official school name on them anyway, said Principal Pete Lewis.

This sidebar appeared with the story: NUMBERS Of 954 students completing surveys, 98 percent favored dropping Mead from the school’s name. The change was supported by 71 percent of faculty members and staff.

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