903.6 Naming of School District Facilities and Other Ways to Honor Individuals

Code No.903.6

NAMING OF SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES AND OTHER WAYS TO HONOR INDIVIDUALS

The Board recognizes the significance names given to District facilities can have to the community, its traditions and values.  The purpose of this policy is to establish a framework to guide the decisions about the naming of District facilities. It is also designed to set helpful guidelines to honor individuals who have made great contributions to the District or to society.

A.    COMMITTEE

Upon notice from the Board that naming or renaming of a District facility is being considered, the Superintendent shall appoint a committee of five (5) to ten (10) individuals.  The Committee shall consist of District employees, parents, students and community representatives to fairly represent the demographic composition of the community. The Superintendent and a Board member shall also serve as non-voting chairpersons of the committee.

The Committee shall develop a process for soliciting recommendations for the naming or renaming of a District facility and then reduce the number of proposed names to a manageable list.  Names selected for the manageable list and further consideration must conform to the criteria outlined in this policy; including but not limited to Section C below.

After evaluating the manageable list, the Committee shall vote on the final name for recommendation.  The final name shall be decided by a majority vote of the Committee and shall be rendered in writing and/or formally presented to the Board at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.

B.    BOARD AUTHORITY

The Board is responsible for the naming of District facilities and reserves the right of final approval for the name of any and all facilities.  The Board reserves the right to withdraw and/or remove a District facility name. Consideration the Board may take in withdrawing and/or removing a District facility name include, but is not limited to, (1) a period of more than twenty (20) years has passed since the death of the honoree, or (2) information is revealed concerning the facility name which may cause the name to be inappropriate for District buildings or grounds.

If the naming of a District facility is a condition of a gift to the District and the Board believes that the size of the gift warrants such action, the Board may waive any and/or all requirements of this policy and approve the name as designated by the donor.  Dedication of a particular facility does not guarantee that the dedicated name will exist in perpetuity.

C.   NAME CRITERIA

Names selected for the manageable list, as specified in Section A above, and for further consideration must conform to at least one of the following three criteria:

  1. Geographic Location or Section of the District – A facility may be named after a geographic location and/or section of the District it serves.
  2. Individuals – Names of individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of education, community, county, state or nation.
    1. Monetary Donation – For a non-employee or non-graduate, to be considered for naming rights, the financial contribution needs to be of great significance.  For a special part of a building, or a room, the minimum contribution is $500,000. For a complete addition of several rooms or a large space (auditorium/gymnasium/ cafeteria/library) the minimum contribution is $1,000,000.
    2. For a graduate or former employee, the amount shall be equal to or surpass at least fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the above amount in 3(A).  Such percentage may be reduced further upon approval of a 2/3 vote of the Board.

D.    RECOGNITION

Besides naming a District facility, the District and/or individual may wish to remember organizations, individuals and/or those who have made contributions in the District, community, state or nation.  A Hall of Fame will be constructed and maintained near, or within the public access to, the high school gymnasium and auditorium recognizing such individuals.

An individual wishing to recognize an organization/individual may make such request in writing and/or formally present such request to the Board at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.  The Board may approve appropriate recognition/memorial plaques it deems appropriate by a majority vote of the Board.

Approved: 03-13-2013

Reviewed: 04-24-2024

Revised: 05-08-2013

Grinnell-Newburg Community School District, Grinnell, Iowa