Spring Hill, Thomas Jefferson could get new names
By Jamie Brunk Staff Writer // jamieb@nwanews.com

Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008

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BENTONVILLE - Two Bentonville schools may soon be renamed to honor longtime educators.

The Bentonville School Board's Facilities Committee approved both name changes Friday morning at its May meeting. Spring Hill Middle School is expected to become Ardis Ann Middle School, after the school's founding principal, Ardis Larson-Cole. Thomas Jefferson Elementary School could soon bear the name Tennie Russell Elementary School, after a local woman who taught there for nearly three decades.

Board members on the committee approved both name changes unanimously, but they also agreed that the board's policies must be followed. The board's schoolnaming policy requires that the Facilities Committee first approve the name, then there must be a chance for public input before the full school board approves the name.

The idea for changing Spring Hill's name to honor Larson-Cole came first from a staff member from that school. Larson-Cole worked in the Bentonville schools for 20 years, and she opened Spring Hill as principal in 1995. She retired two years ago and was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS ), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, about eight months ago.

"It's a real appropriate honor," said board member Beth Haney, who had two children attend Spring Hill.

Similar thoughts were conveyed regarding renaming TJ after Russell, who not only taught there for 27 years but also had three children and three grandchildren attend the school. The committee compared naming the school after Russell to naming a school after Mary Mae Jones. Both women are the same age and have been dedicated to Bentonville education for many years.

Both women expressed being pleased with the honor being suggested.

"It's a great honor," Russell said. "I spent my entire career at Thomas Jefferson. My roots run deep."

Larson-Cole issued a statement through family members regarding the honor.

"I have had a lot of time to reflect on my life since being diagnosed with ALS eight months ago. This honor is a legacy like no other," she said. "Spring Hill was my heart and soul. We had a wonderful, progressive staff that always did their best to achieve success for students and our community.

"(Assistant principal ) Wayne Zumwalt and I worked together for 11 years," Larson-Cole continued. "Our strengths meshed to empower success at Spring Hill. We had outstanding students and parents to work with, as well as a great support staff who were always willing to go beyond expectations."

No major objections to the name changes are expected, but the board will continue with plans to allow time for public comment. The only possible snafu with changing TJ's name to honor Russell is that it remains unclear why Thomas Jefferson was given its original name. Records indicate that the land where the school is built came from a "Tommy Jefferson," but there is also the belief that the school could have simply been named for the former U. S. president. There is only one living board member from that time, Superintendent Gary Compton said.

More research will go into the matter before the full board votes in June. Board member Marshall Ney raised the issue and said that if the school district paid for the land or if the school was named for a former president, he doesn't mind the name being changed. If the school's land was donated, however, changing the name now would set a precedent for future boards to change school names simply because they were unfamiliar with the people for whom the school was named, he said.

Board member Joe Falcon suggested that if it doesn't work out for Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to be renamed for Russell, then Bentonville's next elementary school could be named in her honor.

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