SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The Latest on la meeting to decide whether Dixie School District in California will change its name (all times local):

9:25 p.m.

The Dixie School District in San Rafael, California is changing its name after critics said it's linked to the Confederacy and slavery.

Trustees of the San Francisco Bay Area district voted Tuesday night to change the name of the district and its elementary school by Aug. 22, when classes resume.

However, the board didn't choose a new name. A community committee will be set up to solicit suggestions from the public.

The decision follows months of fractious and sometimes heated online debate among parents in the district.

Critics contend that the 150-year-old district was named on a dare by Confederate sympathizers while opponents say the 1,700-student district was named for a Miwok Indian woman named Mary Dixie.

Both sides had accused the district of foot-dragging on the issue after the board voted against a name change in February, saying it wanted more community input.

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7:30 p.m.

A San Francisco Bay Area school board is hearing from both sides in a meeting to decide whether to change its name, which critics say is linked to the Confederacy and slavery.

Speakers both opposed and in favour of a name-change appeared Tuesday evening before the Dixie School District board of trustees in San Rafael.

Trustees also are discussing possible costs of a name change.

A majority of board members have said they support changing the name but they voted against it in February because they said the process seemed rushed and they wanted more community input.

The issue has pitted parents against each other in weeks of testy online exchanges.

Promoters claim the 150-year-old district was named on a dare by Confederate sympathizers. Opponents say the 1,700-student district was named for a Miwok Indian woman, Mary Dixie.

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1:43 p.m.

The Dixie School District board in the California city of San Rafael plans to vote on whether to keep its name, which critics say it is linked to the Confederacy and slavery and supporters maintain is it named after a Native American woman.

Board members are scheduled to vote Tuesday evening on the name change.

A majority of board members say they support changing the name but they voted against it in February because they said the process seemed rushed and they wanted more community input.

The issue has pitted parents against each other in weeks of testy online exchanges.

Promoters claim the 150-year-old district was named on a dare by Confederate sympathizers. Opponents say the 1,700-student district was named for a Miwok Indian woman, Mary Dixie.

News from © The Associated Press, 2019