Walpole School Committee Gets Ball Rolling On 'Rebel' Name Change

WALPOLE, MA — The Walpole School Committee dove into addressing the name change commission for the district's athletic teams. Last week, the School Committee voted unanimously to create a commission to come up with a new name for the district's athletic team, now called the Rebels.

The Rebel name carries connotations to the Confederacy, to anti-abolitionists and to segregationists in the 1960s. The district has tried to rebrand and distance itself from the name's past associations while keeping the name, but many said the rebranding failed or didn't go far enough.

The name change commission will be handled by Walpole High School and spearheaded by Principal Stephen Imbusch and Athletic Director Ron Dowd. An application form is available here for members to apply.

The School Committee said it plans to meet with Booster organizations to look into fundraising for costs. The committee said participants who have a connection to Walpole High School are encouraged to be involved in this process. The School Committee will get regular updates on this Commission and report them at committee meetings.

The name-change commission will be made up of a diverse group of community members.