FREEPORT

Freeport High School will retain its original name.

Regional School Unit 5’s Board of Directors voted last week not to change the school’s name. Pownal, Durham and Freeport students in Grades 9-12 attend the school near Freeport’s downtown, which is undergoing renovations.

Appointed and elected school leaders surveyed students, families, FHS graduates and school staff about a possible name change.

RSU 5 board Chairwoman Michelle Ritcheson said in an email that survey results showed greater support to keep the school’s current name.

“In addition, there were strong feelings that keeping the name of the town where the school is located provided benefits along with the desire to maintain the ‘brand’ that FHS has developed over time,” Ritcheson wrote. “The other recurring theme we heard was the desire to use our financial resources in ways that directly impact our children’s learning, and many felt this change would not do that.”

In an earlier Times Record story, several FHS students said the money to change school stationery, bus decals and sports logos would be better spent.

The name change research — known as the “Unity and Pride Survey” — gauged the communities’ mood.

“I believe we have seen that unity and pride are alive and well within the district and we plan to continue to nurture them so they can continue to grow,” Ritcheson said.