Student wants to change school name to Barack Obama High

BOULDER - When 16-year-old Ben Raderstorf first came up with the idea, he admits it seemed a little "out there." But after some consideration and support, he decided to go for it.

The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) says it is considering the junior's proposal to change the name of Boulder High School to Barack Obama High School.

"We're not so much naming it after him, as naming it after the achievement that was his election, for not just minorities, but all Americans," Raderstorf said.

But not everyone is on board with changing the school's name, including other students and the principal.

"The school really has a really deep special meaning to lots and lots of people, so that name goes right along with it," Boulder High Principal Bud Jenkins said.

Jenkins is also a graduate of the school.

"It's really an icon of the community. I'm sure if the kids haven't heard from the vintage Panthers, they'll hear from the old-time graduates of Boulder High School," Jenkins said.

The BVSD says it doesn't have an opinion on it, but says there is a lengthy process involved in changing the name of a place that belongs to everyone.

"The name of the school belongs to more than just one student body at any one time, it's a whole community that owns that name so a whole community needs to be engaged in that discussion," Briggs Gamblin, BVSD spokesman, said.

To get the name changed, the BVSD says it is a lengthy process because "the naming of public facilities are often strongly held and deeply felt."

The proposal must go through the principal, the assistant superintendent, a screening committee made up of members of the community, school staff and students. Then it goes to the district superintendent who submits it to the Boulder Valley Board of Education.

The school board's policy on changing a school name says: "The renaming of a school shall be considered only when district restructuring creates a new school or in other extraordinary circumstances deemed by the Board of Education."

Boulder High School was founded in 1875 as a preparatory school for the University of Colorado, making it the first high school in Colorado. That is why it has the slogan: "Still the First." Boulder High School's current building was constructed in 1933.

"There are generations of people living in this community who graduated from here and their children have graduated," Gamblin said.

Raderstorf says he understands it will be an uphill battle, but says, to quote Obama, "Yes, we can."

"The more we talk to people, the more they start to realize it is a viable idea. There is nothing all that ridiculous about it. It's almost premature in a way, but on the other hand his election was such a huge and momentous achievement that it calls for things to be different than they always have been," Raderstorf said.

Raderstorf and his supporters will present their idea to the school on Thursday afternoon. He says they are ready to put in the work to convince the community it's a good idea.

"In our society, everything that we do, a name is always much more than just a name. Symbolisms are always very important and they serve to direct the community and inspire the community," he said. "If we were to do something like this, it would put across this message that we're still continuing to strive to be ahead of the curve and we want to be, we want to look towards being a better society."