Group Seeks to Recognize Nurse, Rename School

What’s in a name?

A lot, apparently, according to a group of Long Valley Middle School alumni trying to recognize former school nurse Mary Darter by petitioning to rename the school after the longtime township resident.

“If you went to school here, you knew who Mary Darter was,” said Middle School alumna Arlene Burd Mitchell, who now lives in Texas, and is one of the catalysts behind the petition. “They did it with Ben Cucinella, and we now have the chance to do it for Mrs. Darter. Let’s not wait until it’s too late; she should be recognized now.”

The group, named Students for The Mary Darter Middle School, has created a petition on Facebook seeking signatures as well as memories and facts about the 90-year-old Washington Township resident.

Darter, who officially resigned from her duties in various volunteer activities in the town on Jan. 5, served as a nurse in the school district for nearly 40 years.

Current Long Valley Middle School Principal Mark Ippolito, who was a student under Darter, feels the longtime school nurse should be recognized in some way.

“It’s certainly a nice gesture to recognize someone who gave so much to the school and community,” Ippolito said. “You don’t always remember what was taught or certain days you were there; but you always remember the people that were around you.”

Ippolito said he’d be interested in working with the group in honoring Darter by way of mural or some other form of recognition, if the renaming of the school does not come to fruition.

Another former student of Darter’s, Karolee Pierson, is also behind the group trying to rename the school. “I think if we can really get this going, most of the town would sign it,” Pierson said.

The process to rename a school or facility, according to board of education policy number 7250, is straightforward. The policy states:

“A building shall be named only by formal action of the board of education, and in doing so the board shall strive to honor the traditions and high ideals of the district and community it serves. A building or school facility should be named to memorialize the outstanding service of a school district employee or officer.”

If the action of renaming the Long Valley Middle School were to go forward, the board would appoint a committee of interested parties to conduct an appropriate study of any suggestions(s), and make a recommendation back to the board, according to Washington Township School Board President Michael Rec.

The Long Valley Middle School offers the Mary Darter Award each year, which is given by students to a classmate who has displayed leadership, responsibility, respect and friendship. These recipients are nominated and voted on by their classmates.

The Students for Mary Darter Middle School group can be found on Facebook by going here.