Wrap: The Columbia Board of Education approved creating acommittee to review the name of Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School.

Lee now stands for Learn, Explore and Express, though thename Robert E. Lee School still sits above the front door.

The school was initially named after the confederate generalin 1904, and was changed to Lee Expressive Arts over two decades ago after thearts became its primary focus.

The board for the elementary school voted to ask for a namechange in August. In the same month, a pro-confederate rally inCharlottesville, Virginia resulted in the death of a counter-protester.

ColumbiaPublic Schools has no timeline for reconsideration of the school’s name.

Jack Morrisroe. Newsradio 1120 (eleven twenty) K-M-O-X

Wrap: The elementary school’s board wrote a letter to the ColumbiaBoard of Education asking them to formally consider a new name.

The city’s board allows a school to change its name when itsmission is altered and when building renovations are planned. Lee became anarts-focused school over two decades ago and renovations are being planned by itsschool district.

The school is now named Lee Expressive Arts ElementarySchool, and Lee is an acronym for Learn, Explore and Express. However, the name‘Robert E. Lee School’ sits in stone on the building.

The committee’s first meeting is expected in November.

Jack Morrisroe. Newsradio 1120 (eleven twenty) K-M-O-X