SD 72 Urged To Adopt New Naming Policy

School District 72 has adopted a new policy to govern how they will name and rename schools and district facilities.

The new policy was proposed because the board had not previously had a clear process on naming schools, or when and how they would consider renaming a facility.

Under the new policy, schools and facilities will be named/renamed after geographical and historical characteristics - after consultation with student, parent, school, and district staff, as well as local community representatives.

They will not be named after living or deceased people.

An ad-hoc committee would be sanctioned to propose at least two names to be chosen by the board.

The committee would seek approval and considerations from local First Nations, local representatives of off-reserve Indigenous people, students, staff and families and the local municipalities and regions in the catchment area of the school and/or facilities.

If any names in the local Indigenous language is chosen, as acknowledgement to traditional territories, the First Nation must first give its consent and must gift the name to the school district.

The board says it will consider renaming a facility only if it receives proof of overwhelming support from the community, an existing location undergoes a major change of use, a municipality or regional district renames a geographical reference associated with the school, or if the name no longer aligns with board policy.