How and when schools and school facilities should be named for people or communities came before the School District 56 Board of Trustees at their February meeting.
At nearly all their meetings, the board is asked to review, and possibly revise, policies as laws and state/federal regulations change. The Feb. 23 featured first reading approval of Policy FF Naming Facilities (first adopted in June, 1998, and revised 3 times including this revision set to take effect this month). Its purpose is “to establish the basic structure for the naming of district facilities.” This new policy is much shorter than the March, 2015, policy it replaces.
It says, “The school board of trustees is responsible for naming school district facilities.”
Schools will not be named for living persons.
Buildings and/or athletic facilities can be named for individuals living or deceased.
“The board will consider only named that the board considers to promote and to be in keeping with the high public, educational standards to which the district adheres,” the policy says. “... The proposed name should have special significance and/or the person has made an outstanding contribution to the school or school system.”
An appropriate recognition -- “plaque, portrait, or marker for the school” -- may be required of the group that has made the request for naming, according to the policy.
Previously, the policy included 3 sub-parts -- New schools, Naming of district facilities, and Bequests and gifts in trust.
The new policy says, “The board will consider the request only after approval by the administration. Approval of the name for any district facility requires a super majority vote from the board.” The policy also deletes a related administrative rule (FF-R).
At its last Monday meeting, the trustees also received the year-to-date financial report and an instructional update regarding school showcase. The meeting minutes of Feb. 9, which were approved at the Feb. 23 meeting, indicate that the board previously approved the awarding of 2 induction contracts, 1 continuing contract, and 18 administrative contracts for the 2026-27 school year (the board had two February meetings because bad weather led to the Jan. 26 meeting postponement). The D56 Board meets the 4th Monday at each month in the District Conference Center, 100 Legion Dr. in Clinton.
