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Schools

Witchcraft Heights School Name Won't Change

School Committee voted to name the ball fields at the school after former City Councilor Leonard O'Leary.

The will keep its name after School Committee member James Fleming withdrew his after former City Councilor Leonard O'Leary.

Instead, the ball fields at the school will be named in O'Leary's honor and a photo of O'Leary, who represented Ward 4 for 25 years until his death in 2007, will be placed in the school's lobby. 

The School Committee unanimously approved Fleming's revised proposal at its meeting on Monday night.

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Fleming had originally requested renaming the school building after O'Leary, a champion of public education, because it is located in O'Leary's ward.

Fleming also said the name "Witchcraft" might be misconstrued.

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But the renaming proposal from some parents and school staff.

"I felt it would be a fracturous vote," Fleming said on Monday. 

The School Committee policy subcommittee has decided to take no action on the school district's policy for naming or renaming schools.

That policy states that naming a school after a person should not happen until 10 years after the person has died so that their contribution to the community will have "stood the test of time."

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