Newport Mesa Families Hope To Name Field After Parent Volunteer

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A request has been made to rename the Davis Magnet School athletic field "Frainie Field" in honor of Keith J. Frainie, a "dedicated and passionate member of the Davis Magnet School community for nine years, as a parent and volunteer who passed away in December of 2018.

"Keith tragically passed away while playing his favorite sport of soccer," Christy Flores wrote in her petition to the Newport Mesa Unified School District. "His legacy will live on through his dedicated wife, Mary, and two wonderful children, Miles and Siena, as well as the impact he left on the Davis Magnet School community. The strong relationships he created with other Davis parents and community members will keep his passion, dedication, and memory alive, providing students positive and memorable experiences while playing soccer. Naming the Davis Magnet School field, Frainie Field, will help ensure his legacy is never forgotten."

Frainie was a member of the Davis Magnet School Education Foundation, Davis Magnet School’s Pilot Cup Liaison, Pilot Cup Soccer Coach, and member of the Daily Pilot Cup Board of Directors.

"Under Frainie's leadership, he inspired and strengthened community involvement by supporting parent volunteer coaches and motivating students to play soccer regardless of skill level," Christy Flores wrote. "Frainie had the innate ability to encourage and support kids to do their best on the soccer field and had a wonderful, positive attitude that motivated kids on and off the field."

Frainie created strong relationships with other Davis parents and community members that will keep his passion, dedication, and memory alive, providing students positive and memorable experiences while playing soccer.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education considers the naming of district property an extremely important task, a spokesperson said. It recognizes that community input and discussion are an integral part of the process. It also recognizes that as time passes, the facts, conditions, and the reasons that went into the decision to name a district property may not be known to future Board members or interested individuals.

All district facilities including buildings, rooms, property, playing fields, equipment, etc., of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, shall be named by the Board in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Individuals, living or deceased, who have contributed greatly to the betterment of society and/or the local community, area and/or district.
2. Individuals, living or deceased, who have served with distinction in their field of endeavor and represent a positive role model that would reflect with honor on the district.
3. Individuals, living or deceased, who have made contributions of state, national or worldwide significance.
4. The geographic area in which the property is located.
5. The proposed name shall have significant meaning to the individuals in the area.

The Board's goal is to ensure that the naming of facilities honors those who are truly deserving of a permanent memorial and reflective of the purpose and mission of the district. An Ad Hoc Committee is required to meet and begin the process.

The Ad Hoc Committee met on March 15, 2019, to initiate the process. The next step, according to the Board Policy (BP7310) is to provide an opportunity to collect public input, pro or con, on this proposed naming.

The comment period will be open March 20, 2019, through April 3, 2019. Following the community input, the information will go before the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education on April 23, 2019.

Weigh in your response: www.surveymonkey.com