School Facilities Naming Policy Released

After a , The Reading Public Schools Committee released the Naming of Facilities policy for Reading schools Monday. However, a full review of the document will not come until all School Committee Members can study the document. Regardless of this fact, the policy is now in effect.

The Reading Public Schools Committee originally adopted the policy on Sep. 28, 2006 and revised it Sep. 13, 2010. Just months later, in , it became the center of a conflict over the naming of .

Below is a run-down of the document the School Committee provided for public view at Monday night's meeting.

“Naming a school or places within a school or on school property is an important matter that deserves thoughtful attention,” reads the first line of the two page document. “A name associated with educational significance or inspiration should be chosen.”

The policy goes on to read: “The Committee also feels that in appropriate circumstances, naming rights to school buildings, fields, rooms, or structures thereof might be licensed to a corporation or other entity in return for a fee.”

The policy continues to explain the details surrounding the naming process such as:

• A “transparent, orderly and public process” will take place in reccommending names created by the Superintendent

• The Committee “encourages and supports” community participation in the process

• “Personal prejudice or favoritism, political pressure, or temporary popularity” should not be used in deciding a name

The policy then addresses the criteria that will be used in selecting a person to be honored by having their name applied to a piece of school property. Those criteria are as follows:

• Must make signifigant contributions to education (IE: service towards Reading youth, demonstrating understanding of public education, etc.)

• Superior level of performance in strengthening and supporting public schools

• Effective citizenship

• Community service

• Excellent character and general reputation

• High standards of ethics

The policy then deals with how someone is nominated to be named and the restrictions of naming. Those rules are as follows:

• Buildings, fields, etc. that already have a commonly accepted name will not be eligible for nominations expect under special circumstance (detailed below)

• Only buildings on school property can be named

• There will be annual report (“usually during the first quarter of the school year”) dealing with naming

• At least 30 days prior to the scheduled naming School Committee meeting, a public notice will be sent out

• All parties interested in submitting nominations should send a written explaination outlining the specific reasons concerning naming to the Chairman of the School Committee and the Superintendent of schools

• A meeting with the person(s) who nominate an individual will meet with the Chairman and Superintendent for approval for nomination to put on School Committee agenda

• 10 minutes will be allowed at the School Committee meeting for people to present their nomination

• At a subsequent School Committee meeting, nominations will be discussed and voted on as to whether or not to be considered. Accepted nominations will be handed over to a subcommittee for further review. (The subcommittee will consist of, but not limited to, one School Committee member, the principal of school nomination is regarding, a student representative from school, one member of historical commission, a Board of Selectmen member)

• All subcommittee meetings will be held as public meetings under Open Meeting Laws

• The subcommittee will present their recommendations to the School Committee and a vote will be made by the School Committee for or against the nomination relating in the name being used or not. (During this meeting, the public can again voice their opinion on the matter)