The marquee in front of the South Butler County School District, with Knoch High School in the background, in Jefferson Township is one of the main items that would need replaced if the school board votes to change the district's name.

JEFFERSON TWP — The South Butler County School Board could find itself casting a last vote under that name at the December meeting.

A resolution was up for a vote at the board's Wednesday night meeting to change the district's name to the Knoch School District, but the action was tabled until the Dec. 11 meeting when three newly-elected board members take their seats at the table.

Superintendent David Foley explained that most people know the district as Knoch because the high school and middle school have that name.

But mainly, Foley said, the name change would offer the district a fresh start and opportunity to move past safety and other issues that do not accurately reflect the culture of the district.

“The primary driving force was that I think we needed a new coat of paint, and to move past some of the challenges we've had in this district for decades,” he said.

He said 99 percent of the time, people refer to the district as “Knoch” anyway.

“When we talk about the school district and the pride that we have, we talk about the name 'Knoch,'” Foley said.

Foley said the district must complete a process to change the district's name, and that process would start with a school board resolution to change it.

He said the state legislature would have to vote in favor of the name change for it to happen, according to information he and solicitor Tom Breth received from the chief counsel at the state's Department of Education.

Foley said the district would work with State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, on the matter.

“There would also be a significant (public relations) campaign to explain it,” Foley said.

He said the name change would not take effect until the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

Regarding the cost of changing the name, Foley said the main expense would be changing the lettering on the primary and intermediate elementary school building exteriors and the marquee.

Regarding the rugs, letterhead and other items that say “South Butler County School District,” Foley said all would continue to be used until they are depleted or worn out.

The total cost to switch the name, he said, would be about $5,000.

No school board members spoke out against the name change, but board member Debra Miller suggested the matter be tabled until the three new school board members elected earlier this month take their seats in December.

“I have no issue with that,” Foley said.

Miller also reminded Foley that the solicitor's involvement in changing the name would add to the cost of the project.

Board member Rebecca Boyd said when she graduated from Knoch High School in 1972, several elementary schools were scattered throughout the district.

Today, students in kindergarten through 12th grade attend four schools on the same campus at Dinnerbell and Knoch roads.

“This makes perfect sense because everything is right here now,” Boyd said.

Board member George Zacherl called the move “out of the blue.”

The board voted 6-2 to table the resolution, with outgoing board member Matt Cimbala and board President Donna Eakin, who made the motion to table, voting no.