Following is a letter to the editor from Leane Turner, a Davidson resident for 14 years, a parent of three children headed to attend the new high school,  a member of the PTO and School Leadership Team and volunteer at Davidson Elementary and Bailey Middle School.

To the Editor,

With all due respect, I just want to clarify for the record and to Ms. Cresenzo (the granddaughter of Mr. William Hough quoted in “School Board rep to seek new name for Hough High“) and others that many of us who have expressed objections to the naming of the new high school in North Mecklenburg are the very folks who do “do something real” with their time. Letters to school board members that I have viewed are coming from the very people who are and will continue to be great volunteers and supporters of our families, public schools and our community – current and past PTA officers, volunteers and members; in-school and other volunteers; youth group leaders and Sunday school teachers, Student Leadership Team members; volunteer coaches and coordinators, etc.

Many of the people concerned about the name are equally concerned that the selection of this name for the school is not the appropriate recognition for such a distinguished legacy and have offered that perhaps a scholarship, a library (as already exists in Eden), etc. is a more legitimate designation so that the name will remain honored. Unfortunately, even the correct pronunciation of Hough now denotes a real concern for this generation of high school students.

One of the issues being lost in the dialogue continues to be that many are frustrated with the more antiquated and unresponsive process of communication utilized by CMS and the element of politics that seems to play too great a role in the system. It seems to me that Mr. Hough would actually be the type of person who would understand some of the frustration people feel over the bureaucracy and the politics now involved in the education of our children in this very large and diverse district.

I commend parents and residents who do want to suggest change in processes – perhaps we too often back off on issues we should not with our schools and CMS. I can also assure you that this issue has not at all distracted from the education process for our children, nor from any of our time volunteering and being involved – these things just go with the territory now as much as assisting in the media center, planning a fund-raiser, attending a school meeting or mentoring a student.

Leane D. Turner
Davidson