When the board congregated they decided to rename Mercer Middle School to Gum Spring Middle School which will go into effect on July 1st 2025. This is because Charles Fenton Mercer had an extensive history with slavery in the 1800's. In total Loudoun County plans to spend 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS on 9 school Name changes Mercer Middle School being one of them. The board made it very clear that the committee was largely performative and meaningless: most committee members are not members of the school community (have never set foot in the building, don’t live in the area, and have no idea what goes on every day during the school year), and the community “survey” sent out had no way to control the data.

It's a shame that activists from above and around can come through, wreck havoc on our school culture, and simply leave - never to return again. I guarantee that not one of these activist committee members (those who do not care about our school specifically) will be back to see the aftermath, or to address the REAL issues that actually affect student outcomes. No true care was put into this decision; no one came to observe our staff or school climate during the day. It was simply assumed inaccurately that the Mercer magistrate is associated with a specific individual. At the time of the school’s creation, it was against school board policy to name after people. 20 years later, the county is forcing a namesake association for the sake of satisfying their political hunger and to create division where there is NONE. Oh, and for the fun of burning tax payer money.They have now entered the twilight zone.

This money could be spent on hiring TA’s for special ed/EL, fixing ceilings, new desks, free and reduced lunch, gym equipment, etc. There is not one piece of data to suggest that the school name affects students in any way.

Such a movement should be grassroots. If Mercer wanted to rename their own school, it is a different discussion. This was initiated by a politicized school board 4 years ago, who continuously ignored communities who felt it was completely unnecessary.

This is clearly a shameless, dystopian waste of money. I am sad for our society.

However, we can work together and change their minds, SIGN THIS PETITION