The Newton County Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to table the naming of the new elementary school until December, after several Oxford residents ask they leave the name Palmer-Stone Elementary at the Oxford school, which is scheduled to be phased-out.

Oxford City Councilman Hoyt Oliver spoke to the board, as did several other Oxford residents, all urging the board to not vote hastily and to consider the history of the current Palmer-Stone before allowing another school to take that name. The new school will be located on Airport Road.

Although the board did have the naming of the new elementary school on their agenda, and a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Gary Mathews did suggest the new elementary school be named Palmer-Stone per board direction, council member Almond Turner asked that the discussion be tabled until the board’s Dec. 14 meeting.

“I just feel that it would be good for us to have some additional dialogue before we make this decision,” said Turner.