NAMING A BUILDING OR FACILITY
Thank you to everyone that replied to my request for information on naming district facilities.
I received the following responses. I also received a few comments from superintendents that gave advice on their ideas of how to proceed. Please know that I also appreciate your personal views.
Naming a School
As discussed during the most recent Committee of Whole Board meeting, I have been collecting information from other districts on how they have proceeded in the naming of district buildings. I received the following information regarding this topic:
1. CUSD 100 District Policy 4-150
The following criteria will be used by the Board of Education in determining whether to name a facility or a specific area on campus for any individual. The individual must meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Been associated with a school program for at least 20 years and been responsible for the development of the program or some aspect of the program to a level where it is locally or regionally recognized for its quality.
2. Provided leadership for a program that is recognized for building student character and skills by modeling good life habits, utilizing excellent motivational skills and making learning the focus of the program.
3. Provided leadership for a program that produced many conference or state award winning performers as individuals or as teams.
4. Provided many hours of volunteer service.
5. Been known for his/her contributions for the betterment of the community, state or country.
2. District 205
3245 Commemorative Naming of School Buildings and/or Facilities
The Board of Education recognizes that respect and gratitude for individuals who have made significant contributions to School District 205 and the community may be expressed by naming a school building and/or facility in honor of those individuals. Acknowledgment in this manner perpetuates the memory of the contribution and provides a sense of history for future students, staff, and residents. Any School District 205 building or facility may be designated to be named. Names may include living or deceased person who has made significant contributions to the district through longevity or service, exemplary leadership, philanthropic contributions or other significant means. To eliminate spontaneous or emotional response, typically nominations will not be considered until three years after the service, contribution or death of the individual or the last designation of a name for the building or facility. This policy does not bind the Board of Education to name buildings or facilities after persons who have contributed to the district. Other memorials such as scholarships, plantings, furnishings, equipment, or art are also appropriate memorials for commemoration of outstanding contributions to the district. All requests for the naming of facilities, auditoriums, libraries and grounds must be presented to the Superintendent through a formal letter with the reason(s) for the request. A committee will be appointed by the Superintendent for each request. The committee has the responsibility to review any suggestions submitted in writing, study the impact of the requested recognition on the school, the district and community, and make a recommendation to the full Board of Education for the acceptance or rejections of the request.
3. Township High School
Facilities
Includes individual buildings, rooms, internal spaces, streets, landscape materials and associated exterior furnishings, courts, athletic fields, open space and all other areas owned, operated, or controlled by Township High School District! 40.
Purpose
Township High School District 40 will name facilities to recognize individuals who have attained achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction. Generally, these will be individuals who have had direct, substantial, and active association with the District. Selection may also be based on the individual's record of scholarship, creativity, leadership, humanitarian service, or public service. Facilities may also be named to recognize organizations, individuals, places and programs which have had significant roles in the life of the District, for benefactors who significantly assisted in the cost to construct and/or remodel facilities, and to provide an incentive for and recognition of significant donors to the District,
Authority
The Board of Education of Township High School District 40 exercises authority for the naming of all facilities owned, operated, or controlled by Township High School District 40.
Procedures
The Superintendent of Township High School District 40 shall appoint a committee to receive and review all requests regarding the naming of facilities. The committee shall consist of a minimum of seven members to include at least: Two Board of Education members, two community representatives, one district representative, one member from the club or activity which is directly affected, and one administrator. The Superintendent may appoint more than seven members to the committee, as long as the total number of members is an odd number. All requests shall include: (1) the name(s) of the individual and/or group(s) making the suggestion (2) biographical/historical data, and the (3) rationale for the request. The Board of Education and/or the review committee shall have the right to solicit additional nominations related to a particular request. The committee shall review all requests pursuant to the Purpose and Criteria as set forth in this policy. The committee shall forward an advisory recommendation, with appropriate documentation, to the Superintendent and then to the Board of Education for final action.
Criteria
1. Facilities may be named for any individual. The name should be that:
a. of an individual who gained distinction in the area related to usage of the facility; or
b. of an individual of unusual eminence who contributed to the District as a whole; or
c. of an individual who made outstanding contributions to the development of the program related to the facility; or
d. of an individual who made a monetary gift of significant size toward the cost and/or the operation of the facility; or
e. of an individual named on behalf of a benefactor(s} who made a monetary gift of significant size toward the cost and/or the operation of the facility; or
f. of an individual whose name will lend prestige and status to an institution of learning.
2. Facilities may be named for other than individuals. The name should be that;
a. a fan organization with historical and exceptional ties to the District; or
b. of an event significant in the District '" history; or
c. of a program which has had a significant role in the life of the District.
3. Facilities named as a result of monetary gifts made by an individual, or on behalf of an individual shall deposit the monetary gift with Township High School District 40.
4. All monetary gifts deposited under the guidelines of this policy shall be designated for use toward the cost and/or the operation of Township High School District 40.
Procedure to Rename Existing or Replacement Facilities and School and District
Symbols
A rationale outlining reasons for change shall be submitted to the Board prior to initiating the process to rename any existing or replacement facility or to change existing mascots, colors or other symbols associated with schools or the District. Upon approval by the Board that a change is appropriate, the procedure to name new or unnamed facilities and school and District symbols shall be followed.
Public Dedication
New school buildings, major additions to facilities, and naming or renaming of facilities shall be dedicated In a public ceremony. There shall be a program or open house to which the Board, students, parents, staff, and citizens are invited. All plans for such dedications shall be made in cooperation with the Superintendent.