School names that stick

Two Los Fresnos schools will be named in the coming months, and the city's residents will play a role in the selection process.

An elementary school, slated to open in 2010 or 2011, and a ninth grade campus slated to open in August 2009 are currently unnamed.

Residents may submit their suggestions - along with relevant background information - to the school district before Sept. 30.

A committee of faculty and community members will then pass on several of those recommendations to the school board. The board will then choose from the recommended names or suggest its own alternatives.

Residents are already discussing their own thoughts on the naming process.

 In the naming of school buildings or other facilities, the following guidelines shall be used:

- Facilities may be named for persons who have served the District or community, especially in service to children.

- Facilities may be named for any local, state, or national heroic figure.

- Facilities may be named for any local geographic feature.

- A living person shall not be considered for being honored by the naming of a facility.

- A nominee shall have made a significant contribution to society and/or education, and his or her name shall lend prestige and status to an institution of learning.

- Facilities may be named for local residential or geographic areas or state or national landmarks.

- Facilities to be named shall be separate structures or campuses, and identifiable existing facilities and campuses shall not be fragmented by renaming portions of those structures or campuses.

The responsibility for the final decision in naming facilities rests with the Board. At a regularly scheduled meeting, the board shall officially select a name from the list of recommendations submitted by the Superintendent for each campus or facility to be named.

SOURCE: Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School; District Board Policy, New Facilities, CW