5635 - Recognition, Memorials & Naming of Facilities
| Policy: Recognition, Memorials & Naming of Facilities | Policy Number: 5635 |
| Date of Original Policy: 09/28/2016 | Date Revision Adopted: 10/19/2016 |
| Reviewed by Policy Committee: 09/28/2016 | Date of Next Review: 09/28/2020 |
| Replacement of Policy Number: |
Recognition
The Board of Education recognizes the importance and benefit of publicly recognizing the outstanding performance and contributions of people associated with the school district. The District has established forms of recognition that include designated plaques that are provided at the District’s expense. The District shall designate areas for the installation of plaques and other items of recognition. District employees or residents of the district may nominate a person or persons for recognition by requesting a form from the District Clerk.
The recognition should be for a person or persons who have provided significant benefit to the district either in the course of his or her employment or volunteer efforts on behalf of the district or who have attained substantial national, state, or local prominence.
Memorials
The Board shall, by majority vote, approve any forms of recognition in memoriam, to be presented in the Board’s name, or to be displayed or placed on, or in, or affixed to, District property. The Board shall designate areas for the installation of memorial plaques and other items of recognition.
District employees or residents of the district may nominate a person or persons for recognition by requesting a memorial form from the District Clerk. The completed form must be returned to the District Clerk. The form must include clear justification for the recognition, a specific description of the recognition proposed, recommended wording of any inscriptions, the material to be used to prepare the recognition, and how the recognition is to be funded.
The recognition should be for a person or persons who have provided significant benefit to the district either in the course of his or her employment or volunteer efforts on behalf of the district or who have attained substantial national, state, or local prominence.
Priority will be given to the uniformity of style and size in relation to other materials previously erected. The Board reserves the right to accept, alter, or reject the proposal. District funds may not be used to purchase items of recognition. Upon Board approval of the memorial, there will be a six month time limit for receipt by the District clerk of funds to be used for recognition.
In its deliberations, the Board will consider the views of the district community including residents, staff and students. There will be a waiting period of at least one year from the date of death before a memorial form will be accepted for consideration.
The Board, upon recommendation of the Superintendent, will make the final determination about materials, design, and wording of all forms of recognition and will ensure that items are crafted so they are as maintenance free as possible, of high quality, and consistent in style, material and workmanship so as to be suitable for the intended location.
Naming and Dedicating School District Property
The Board of Education is responsible for naming any new facility. The Board, in its discretion, may establish procedures for the naming of any building or other district property. In selecting a name for any facility, the Board may take into account those persons who have been involved in the planning, construction or renovation of the facility, or any other relevant considerations. Suitable buildings plaques or other memorials may be authorized by the Board.
Naming and Dedicating School District Property in Honor of Individuals
I. Qualifying School District Property
A portion of the school district property can be named, renamed, dedicated or rededicated (collectively referred to as naming) if the property is: 1) not presently named or dedicated in honor of an individual, and 2) not presently named for the Jordan-Elbridge School District. One or more of the following conditions must exist for the property to qualify (the naming shall apply only to that portion of the district’s property as described in each of the four categories):
Category 1- Major Enclosed Buildings and Facilities
• Construction or acquisition of a new school district building
• Refurbishment of an existing school district building or consolidation of multiple existing school district buildings for alternative use.
Category 2- Major Support Facilities and Outdoor Athletic Facilities
• Significant major addition to, or major construction of, a special use area in an existing school district building (e.g. gymnasium, library).
• Construction, reconstruction or extensive refurbishment of a major open area outside and contiguous with a school district building, or a substantial non-enclosed facility not directly adjacent to a school district building and not in Category 1 (e.g. athletic track or field not within a stadium, a sports stadium and the associated track or field).
Category 3- All Other Outdoor Facilities
• Construction, reconstruction or extensive refurbishment of an ancillary facility outside a school district building and not in Category 1 or 2 (e.g playground)
Category 4- All Other Property
• All other minor school district property not in Categories 1-3 (e.g. a newly planted tree on school district property for the specific purpose of dedication as a memorial to an individual).
II. Qualifying Individuals
For an individual to qualify, he or she must meet the following criteria:
Category 1- for the naming of school district property in Category 1, the individual must be recognized nationally or internationally for significant and far-reaching positive contributions in his or her lifetime that have lasting and enduring value to the community in one or more of the areas of Education, the Arts, Science, Medicine, History, Government, Law, Human Rights or Civil rights.
Category 2- For the naming of school district property in Category 2, the individual must be recognized city-wide, state-wide, nationally or internationally, for significant positive contributions in his or her lifetime or in service to the school district that have lasting and enduring value to the community in one or more areas of Education, the arts, Science, Medicine, History, Government, Law, Human Rights, Civil Rights or Sports.
Category 3-For the naming of school district property in Category 3, the individual must be recognized community wide for significant positive contributions in service to the subject or the school district.
III. Procedures 1. A written request for the naming must be submitted to the District Clerk, accompanied by supporting documentation and narrative to illustrate compliance with the above criteria. The request will be forwarded to the Health and Wellness Committee for an initial determination of compliance with the above criteria.
2. The Health and Wellness Committee shall review the request and supporting documentation at their next scheduled meeting. If the Health and Wellness Committee finds that the request substantially meets the required criteria, it will forward its findings and a rationale for its recommendation to the Board of Education for consideration.
3. For the naming of school district property falling into Categories 1-3, where the Health and Wellness Committee recommends acceptance of the proposal, a resolution shall be prepared for review by the Board and if, acceptable to the Board, presented for a Public Hearing prior to the Board’s final action.
4. The President of the Board shall communicate in writing a response to the proposed naming to the requesting party.
5. The plaque commemorating the naming of property category 2-4 shall be appropriately worded and approved by the Board of Education and shall be permanently affixed by the district at, in, or near the property dedicated, as it deems appropriate.
6. Cost related to the approved naming in Categories 2-4 shall not be borne by the school district.