An elementary school in Hillsborough is set to see its name change in the coming months.

The Orange County Schools Board of Education voted at its Monday meeting to change the name of Cameron Park Elementary School. The unanimous vote drops the namesake of Paul Carrington Cameron, who had a documented history as a slave owner.

This name change comes as the school district is implementing a 14-step strategy to address “persistent racial intolerance, inequities and academic disparities in our district.” Among the steps includes an initiative to “review the names of buildings in our district to examine their origin and compliance.”

Paul Carrington Cameron was one of the richest men in North Carolina during the 19th century. Historical studies revealed he owned 1,900 enslaved people before his death in 1853.

The school board also considered a name change for C.W. Stanford Middle School at its Monday meeting. The Durham Herald-Sun reports school board members requested more information be examined before approving a removal, however, with descendants of its namesake Charles Whitson Stanford Sr. objecting to any change.

Stanford served as an Orange County school board member from 1941 to 1967 and the board’s chair for 16 years. His service during the period of segregation in the county, however, clouds his tenure.

Feedback on school names submitted as board materials Monday night reflect community input suggesting the Hillsborough school’s name should be changed due to the segregated schools receiving less funding than others in the district under Stanford’s leadership. Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. Monique Felder and other school board members also cited accounts of community members who remembered Stanford not allowing Black community members to speak at meetings during his tenure.

Ultimately, the board voted to have district staff bring more information to present at an upcoming work session on Stanford’s history and legacy.

The Cameron Park Elementary School name will be changed over the summer, according to the Orange County School Board.

Photo via WTOC.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Schools' Selena Masse Named First-Ever Outstanding Holocaust Educator of the Year
An Orange County Schools teacher was recently named the first-ever Outstanding Holocaust Educator of the Year. 
Familiar Topics, Concerns Shared at Joint Orange County School Board Meeting
Orange County Commissioners heard updates from Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools leaders' at a recent meeting.
'How Are We Engaging in Schools?' Orange County Shares Survey Results
In its first meeting of the year, the Orange County Schools Board of Education discussed results from a survey that aimed to better understand issues facing parents and students. 
Local Government Meeting Schedule: August 29-September 2
This week, Chatham County Commissioners weigh in on VinFast plans, and the Orange County School Board considers raises for bus drivers.
Richmond, Purcell, Atherton and Smylie Elected to Orange County School Board
In a tight race across a wide field of candidates, the Orange County Schools Board of Education added two newcomers to its ranks on Tuesday: André Richmond and Anne Purcell. Richmond, a school resource officer, earned the most votes of the race: 8,648 total votes and 19 percent of those cast. Purcell, who’s worked for […]
Orange County School Board Unanimously Keeps Challenged Books in Libraries
The Orange County Board of Education recently held a special meeting to consider an appeal by a parent of the decision to keep three books in the Cedar Ridge High School library. The Orange County Board of Education chose to uphold the previous decisions saying these books have a place in the county’s high school libraries.
Orange County School Board Votes to Continue 'High Risk' Sports Programs
Following a contentious school board meeting that lasted well into Monday night, the Orange County Board of Education voted to continue high school sports in Hillsborough despite recent health department recommendations to close “high risk” sports programs. The school board met to vote on a proposal to temporarily halt high school sports, including football, after […]
OCS Approves River Park Elementary and Orange Middle to Replace Cameron, Stanford Namesakes
The Orange County Schools Board of Education approved new names for two of its schools on Monday night: River Park Elementary School and Orange Middle School. Both names passed in a single, unanimous vote by the school board. The new names update the schools known as Cameron Park Elementary School and C.W. Stanford Middle School. […]
Orange County Schools Aims To Rename Two Schools Ahead of Fall
Two Orange County schools (OCS) are undergoing a renaming process in order to abandon their ties to white supremacy.
Orange County Schools to Rename Elementary School With Slaveholder Namesake
An elementary school in Hillsborough is set to see its name change in the coming months. The Orange County Schools Board of Education voted at its Monday meeting to change the name of Cameron Park Elementary School. The unanimous vote drops the namesake of Paul Carrington Cameron, who had a documented history as a slave […]
›