HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-31 School Committee MinutesReading School Committee
Reading, Massachusetts
School Naming Sub Committee Meeting March 31, 2004
Elaine Webb called the School Naming Sub Committee meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. in
the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Elaine Webb, Virginia Adams,
Robert Spadafora, George Hines and Paula Perry.
CITIZEN'S INPUT
There was no citizen's input.
Ms. Webb stated that the committee has been working hard to get a short list of names for
the School Committee. However taking twenty-seven names and making a
recommendation is really difficult. She stated that there is no need to rush the process.
Ms. Webb read the green list of submitted suggested names.
Devidence School
Louis Adreani School
Emerson School
Lois Piper
The Forest School
John Moribito
Miriam A. Barclay
Ipswich River
William R. Hanson
Northwoods School
Hope Elementary
John Brooks School
Paul Guerrette
Edward W. Palmer
Horace Greely Wadlin
Ruby Bridges
Russell T. Graham
Sunset Rock
Wood End School
Hundred Acre School
Ernest Garfield Spence
Ronald Reagan
John R. Copithorne
Kenneth C. Latham
Jody Williams
Henry W. (Bill) Clements
Robert S. Wells
Ms. Webb stated that the Committee worked hard to decrease the list of names to ten.
Each member had his or her list of ten names. One member had eleven names, which
included a tie. Mr. Spadafora wrote the names down once. Each vote was noted.
The list was as follows:
Adreani
4
Hope
4
Moribito 1
Forest
2
Barclay
4
Palmer
2
Devidence 1
Ipswich
1
Brooks
5
Spence
4
Hundred Acre 2
Wells
2
Emerson
3
Wadlin
5
Latham 1
Sunset Rock
1
Graham
3
Wood End
5
Hanson 1
Mrs. Perry stated it was difficult to apply criteria number one to the list of names because
there was so much substance to it.
School Namins Sub Committee Meeting -2- March 31, 2004
The list was then shortened to the names with the most votes.
Adreani
4
Barclay
4
Brooks
5
Emerson
3
Graham
3
Hope 4
Spence 4
Wadlin 5
Wood End 5
At 7:55 Ms. Webb called a recess.
At 8:05 Ms. Webb called the meeting back to order.
There was discussion concerning contemporary names.
Mrs. Adams stated that a person who is alive is considered contemporary.
Mrs. Perry stated that it is very difficult to distinguish one contemporary name from
another, to her contemporary means recent memory. To have the proper perspective you
need history.
Mr. Hines said to name a building after a living person, his or her contribution would
have to be so extraordinary that no one would qualify.
Mr. Spadafora continues to have reservations about naming the school after a person.
Names fade with time. There is a cemetery in town named Wood End. He has concerns
having a school with the same name.
Mr. Hines said he was prejudiced against contemporary names. He suggested combining
two names, Spence Adreani School.
Ms. Webb suggested naming rooms at the school after people while naming the school
Hope.
The Committee decided to eliminate all contemporary names.
Mr. Hines stated the letter suggesting the Hope name was eloquent.
Ms. Webb stated that the Hope letter made you take a step back, and that the name did
not alienate people.
Mrs. Adams stated that Hope was at the top of her list and that she would advocate for it.
Mr. Spadafora stated that he enjoyed the process as it had promoted good dialogue.
School Naming Sub Committee Meeting -3- March 31, 2004
Ms. Webb stated that John Brooks was a solid name with historical relevance.
Mrs. Adams stated that John Brooks was not a Reading native. She does not want to
dismiss John Brooks. She would like to come up with five names tonight.
Mrs. Perry stated that John Brooks links beautifully with the American Revolution for
students. She stated she was curious about Emerson.
Mrs. Adams stated that she did some research on the Emerson Family. The Emerson
Family was in the area at that time but they did not own the land upon which the school is
built.
Mr. Spadafora moved to recommend four names to the Reading School Committee
for the naming of the fifth elementary school in Reading.
• The John Brooks School
• Hope Elementary School
• Wood End School
• Horace Greely Wadlin School
Mr. Hines seconded the motion the vote was 5-0 Mrs Adams, Mrs Perry, Mr.
~Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mr. Hines.
ADJOURN
Mr. Spadafora moved to ad*ourn Mr. Hines seconded the motion the vote was 5-0
Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Perry, Mr. Spadafora, Ms. Webb and Mr. Hines
Superintendent of Schools