Signs switched at Fla school named for KKK leader

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Signs are being replaced as Jacksonville's Nathan B. Forrest High School is getting a new name.

The Duval County School Board agreed in January to change the name of the school, ending a decades-long debate. The school was named in 1959 after a former Confederate general and the co-founder of the Ku Klux Klan. It is becoming Westside High to reflect the school's neighborhood.

The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/1iDqcaX ) reports businesses and community members have either given donations or in-kind donations, but that's not enough to offset the costs to the school board.

It is costing $220,000 to change the signs, gym floor and student athletic uniforms. So far, the district has received about $2,087 in donations. They're continuing to accept donations. In addition, companies including Holmes Stamp & Sign, Farm Out Design Services and Matt Carlucci State Farm are donating materials and labor.

Bryan Croft, president and chief executive officer of Homes Stamp & Sign, told the Times-Union his company is donating about 10 signs, with a value of about $2,000.

"We're a 60-year-old Jacksonville company and one of our core values is to support our community any way we can," he said. "We just thought this was a great opportunity to participate."

The school board is taking money from the general fund to cover the changes.

___

Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com