Kenosha---Had the full school board been present for the vote, it's unlikely that "Olen D. Arrington, Jr. Stadium" would've been selected as the name for Bradford High School's new field.
The two board members who missed Tuesday night's meeting have indicated that naming the stadium after the well-respected community leader and pastor-- who died six years ago-- would not have been their first choice.
Tuesday night's vote, without the two members, was three-to two in favor of naming it after Arrington. The decision went against an earlier advisory committee recommendation that the place be named "Mary D. Bradford Stadium." That vote was 12-4.
In a post on WGTD's "Education Matters" Facebook page, one of the absent board members, Mike Falkofske, said that while good reasons exist for naming the stadium after Arrington, the committee recommendation, with its lopsided vote, should've been followed.
Falkofske also criticized the process, saying the board should work harder to make sure committees are more diverse. He also said board members should be kept apprised of committee discussions and sentiment to allow for board member input.
In a previously-sent email, the second absent board member, Dan Wade, said he would've preferred naming the stadium after the school mascot, the "Red Devil." He said he felt bad for the committee members who worked hard only to have their recommendation rejected.
Voting Tuesday in favor of naming the stadium after Arrington were Board President Tamarra Coleman and members Mary Snyder and Rebecca Stevens.
Coleman said in an "Education Matters" post Thursday that the naming matter was not purposely scheduled in order to eliminate input from board members who didn't share her view. The agenda item was scheduled for a night that board members usually are all present to handle work in committees, she said. "The business of the district still must go forward and we try to work as best we can with everyone's schedules."
None of the three board members who voted in the majority has signaled support for reconsideration.
As of noon Thursday, some 1,500 people had signed an online petition asking the school board to rescind its vote.
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