By a 7-2 vote, the Guilford County Board of Education put forth the name Melvin C. Swann Middle School for the 2017-18 school year to replace currently named Charles B. Aycock Middle School:

Swann, who was black, served in education in Guilford County for 36 years. He helped manage the desegregation of Greensboro City Schools after being appointed the director of student affairs in 1971. Later, he also played a central role in the contentious merger of Greensboro, High Point and Guilford County schools, serving as deputy superintendent of the newly consolidated school system.

“I think he would be overjoyed at the knowledge that his granddaughter, whom he loved, submitted his name for this honor that he is going to be considered for,” said his widow, Gloria Jean McCollum Swann.

Due to the 30 day comment period, the incoming school board will take the actual vote on renaming Aycock. That board will be smaller—reduced from 11 members to nine—and partisan—but Democrats took the majority in the November 8 election.