Name Change For Salem's Witchcraft School?
SALEM (CBS) - What's in a name? Shakespeare asked the question, but a local town is debating the answer.
The spirits of Salem's past are everywhere haunting the downtown and other neighborhoods.
There's even a street called Witch Way, which leads to an elementary school called Witchcraft Heights. But now, there's a proposal to change the name of a long standing school.
WBZ-TV's Sera Congi reports.
"It's kind of fun for us, we live in Witchcraft Heights neighborhood. Witchcraft Way is right there. There's all kinds of fun things that are a part of what is living in Salem, embracing the history here for good or bad that it is," said Donna Fritz, a local parent.
The school's historic name would change to Leonard F. O'Leary Elementary School to honor another part of history: a late city councilman.
O'Leary was on the city council for nearly 25 years, and died in 2007. His friends and supporters want the school in his district to be renamed after him as a way to honor his years of public service
"O'Leary did many wonderful things for the city," said Fritz.
Even though parents and residents would like to honor O'Leary, they are attached to the school's name.
"I think it's a really unique name," said Kate Dooling Milano, a local parent.
"It seems much more cost-effective and a lot less time-intensive for the city and people of the city to choose something that doesn't already have a name," said Fritz.
The proposal is in the early stages and would still need approval from the school board.
