NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" Act II, scene ii, Juliet asks:
"What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet"
The folks at 403 W. 10th Ave. in Hutchinson will be calling themselves something else, even though the state database will stay the same.
The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education voted on Monday to not make an official name change for Hutchinson STEM Magnet School at Allen.
However, they are giving the school the opportunity to call itself its preferred name of "Allen STEM Magnet Academy."
"We like it for several reasons," principal Jessica Thomas said. "Academy is a school that specializes in something particular, which is what we want to do. We like that 'Allen' is at the beginning of the name, instead of the end of the name, because, when people refer to the school, they call it 'Allen,' so I think it's nice that's at the forefront of the name."
Since students have collaborated on the name, it will help them believe they can accomplish something at school.
"This is about building collective efficacy in our building," Thomas said. "We know that collective efficacy is something that helps. It has a high-effect size, that helps make a difference for students."
The intent is to have the preferred name on public facing, things like the website and social media.
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