The Newton County Board of Education voted 3-2 on Tuesday to not name the new elementary school Palmer-Stone, listening to the reasoning of several Oxford residents who argued that the name should remain in the city because of its historical importance.

Eddie Johnson and Cathy Dobbs voted in favor of the name Palmer-Stone. The board did not offer a new name at this time.

The naming of the new school, located on Airport Road, several miles outside the Oxford city limits, was originally scheduled to be voted on in November but Oxford City Councilman Hoyt Oliver spoke to the board, as did several other Oxford residents, all urging the board not to vote hastily and to consider the history of the current Palmer-Stone before allowing another school to take that name.

The current Palmer-Stone is scheduled to be phased out as part of the system’s five year facilities plan. All students currently zoned for Palmer-Stone will attend the new elementary school.