Jan. 25, 2022
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Marci Mustello (R-Butler), which would allow local school districts to change their names, unanimously passed the House today.
Currently, there is no statutory process in place which would allow a school district to change its name. Under
House Bill 232, a school district would be permitted to change its name after a two-thirds majority vote of the local board of school directors and approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The South Butler School District contacted Mustello about changing the name of the district to the Knoch School District to honor Eva Knoch, who donated land to the school district in the 1950s.
“Dr. David Foley, superintendent of South Butler School District, contacted me about the district’s interest in changing its name to the Knoch School District,” said Mustello. “Many people in Butler County only know the district as Knoch and changing the name will allow them to formalize its identity.”
On Dec. 11, 2019, the school board passed a resolution approving the change. Mustello introduced House Bill 232 to facilitate a name change. The bill unanimously passed the House Education Committee during the 2019-20 Legislative Session, but was not considered by the full House by the end of session.
House Bill 232 now moves to the Senate for consideration.