Name change construction was originally planned to take place over the summer and be completed in time for student arrival. However, due to the delay in the signing of contracts, many construction projects were still ongoing when students entered the building on their first day.

For example, the previously Woodrow Wilson stonework facing Nebraska avenue was in the midst of construction during the first week of school.  

The crest in the middle of the atrium—once reading Woodrow Wilson—now displays the Jackson-Reed seal. Teachers and administrators have also received new Jackson-Reed shirts and lanyards. Additionally, the Jackson-Reed academic and athletic website URLs are still pending.  

Sports teams also faced challenges practicing on the school field due to continuing construction. The north end of the field changed from Wilson to Jackson-Reed, leaving a portion of the field closed and preventing home games. The construction resulted in a last minute location switch for the boys varsity soccer game against Sidwell Friends.  

Fall sports teams also ran into issues regarding their jerseys, with some teams having to wear old ‘Wilson’ jerseys.

“The [athletics-related] payments were not sent in at the right time. I think that a lot of the executive decisions for this name change were made in haste and they didn’t really think of the consequences and what needs to be changed to fully roll out this new name,” alumni and Field Hockey Coach Patricia Nantume said. 

Unlike the field, the construction in the gym finished over the summer. Over the course of three weeks, Wilson was removed from the wall and the floors were repainted to say Jackson-Reed. 

However, because these changes were finished late in the summer, the girl’s volleyball tryouts were interrupted. While the gym was inspected, the DCSAA state championship winning volleyball team held tryouts and preseason in the auxiliary gym with only one net. 

“I think that [the process has been] very sloppy because if we wanted to erase this name that represents a history of somebody that had negative impacts on the country, we should have been a little more proactive,” Nantume said.

Wilson memorabilia such as championship banners and student awards are being moved to the Sumner Museum, a museum filled with Wilson artifacts.

 “We have to protect that legacy and all the hard work that went into achieving those accomplishments,” Nantume said. 

Construction is predicted to be completed in the following months. •