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The wheels are officially in motion for the Richmond School Board to change the name of four schools in the city.

The board formally started the process Monday night by declaring its intent to rename George Mason Elementary School, E.S.H. Greene Elementary School, a new middle school on Hull Street Road, and Amelia Street School. The vote was 8-1.

“Changing a name is but a symbol,” Richmond schools Superintendent Jason Kamras said Monday. “But symbols matter, especially today when so many Americans of so many backgrounds feel increasingly under attack.”

Jonathan Young of the 4th District was the only vote in opposition.

“I oppose repealing our schools’ names, but I hope my colleagues will be straight with the city of Richmond and acknowledge that they want to remove George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Wythe, along with removal of any portraits of George Washington,” said Young, who also opposed last year’s renaming of J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School — named for a Confederate general — for former President Barack Obama.

The board must now have a public comment period of at least one month and hold at least two public hearings within the schools’ communities.