Middletown Public Schools                                                                             No. 9230

 

 

NAMING SCHOOL FACILITIES  AND MEMORIALS

 

School facilities may be named after geographic sections or persons who have  attained prominence locally or nationally, particularly in the fields of education, science,  art, or public affairs. 

 The School Committee believes that naming school facilities, such as buildings,  athletic facilities, libraries, auditorium, and other special purpose rooms is a matter of  great importance and deserves careful consideration. The Committee will give preference  to those individuals who have made significant contributions to education and to the  community and whose record of service is such as to inspire pride and inspiration to those  using the facility involved. 

The Middletown School Committee may provide family and friends  opportunities to honor and memorialize a deceased student, employee, or  member of the School Committee of the Middletown Public School District as  well as other individuals or community members. The Superintendent or  designee, through the Middletown School Committee, reserves the right to  accept or reject memorial proposals. In addition, the Superintendent or  designee reserves the right to designate the location of the memorial. 

Families and friends wishing to recognize an individual are encouraged  to establish scholarships or make other donations that benefit the education of  students. An engraved brick may be placed in the walkway at the Gaudet  Middle School field. Tree plantings on school grounds (living memorials),  may be marked with a permanent stone and plaque (indicate size) indicating  the name and relevant information of the person to be memorialized.  Educational equipment such as: computers, bulletin boards, library books,  etc., will also be considered. 

 

A school building, facility (excluding classrooms) or school grounds may be  considered for naming after individuals, historical events, geographical points, or other  instances suitable for public properties: however, the use of plaques, memorial gardens,  benches and the like are favored for this purpose. 

 Specific guidelines to be followed in submitting nominations for naming of school  properties: 

a) Nominal financial expense, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00), may be  incurred by the School Department. 

b) Nominations must be submitted by school based or community based groups.  c) Individuals so nominated must have rendered exemplary and extraordinary  service to the School Department or the community. 

d) Nominations should be submitted to the Superintendent who will forward the  nominations to the District Advisory Committee (School Committee members,  appropriate administrator, appropriate teacher, or appropriate community  member). Appointments to the Advisory Committee shall be made on a case by  case basis by the Superintendent. 

e) The District Advisory Committee shall report its findings to the School Committee  within sixty days of its receipt of the nomination with a recommendation for  action. 

f) School committee approval is required prior to the naming of any school property  or the placement of plaques or construction of monuments or edifices on school  property.

 

 

 Memorials will not: 

Alter the conduct of a regular school instructional day 

Alter after school activities or the school activities schedule 

Require the retirement or discontinued use of school property 

Infringe on the separation of church and state 

Require the use of public funds for purchase or development 

Contributions from interested individuals, school or community  organizations will provide financing for such memorials. Donations may be  accepted provided the individual; group or agency underwrites the full cost  including ancillary charges. 

Tax dollars will not be used. 

Any memorial in existence at the time these guidelines are adopted,  whether in compliance with this policy or not, will remain at its current  location unless the donator(s) wish to remove it from school property at their  own expense. 

 

1^st Reading – October  24,  2024

2^nd Reading – November  21, 2024

3 Year Reading Date Due - November 2027