A-09 Naming/Renaming of Schools

The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) recognizes that the naming/renaming of a school is important for both the school community which includes the staff, the students, and their families as well as the community in which a school is located. The framework included in this policy supports an inclusive and equitable approach to the naming/renaming of a school. It also ensures that the involved school community is engaged in the request for the formation of an ad hoc naming committee while also ensuring that the community at large has input if and when a naming committee is formed.

CIRCUMSTANCES FOR NAMING/RENAMING

1. New School: The naming of a school may occur as a result of an accommodation review or when enrolment increases in a community and an additional school facility is required. This recommendation would be made by the new school transition committee which is outlined in the Accommodation Review policy.
2. Consolidation: The renaming of a school may occur because of a consolidation of existing schools through an accommodation review. This recommendation would be made by the transition committee which is outlined in the Accommodation Review policy.
3. Initiation by School Council or Community: The renaming of a school may also occur when a request is made by the school council in elementary schools or together the school council and student council in secondary schools who feel they have sufficient reason to believe their school community would benefit from a review and a potential renaming of their school. It can come from new learning or gathered input from the community at large that the school community feels is relevant to their request. In this case, the councils would submit their rationale for the recommendation to the Superintendent of the school.

THE INITIATION OF A NAMING COMMITTEE

The Superintendent of Education of the school(s) involved would bring forward the request to initiate an Ad Hoc Naming Committee to the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Office of the Director of Education. The Chair and the Director of Education with input from the local trustee(s), would determine if the request for a naming committee be included on the agenda of an upcoming board meeting.

NAMING/RENAMING CRITERIA

To guide the naming/renaming of a school, the Naming Committee through an equitable and inclusive lens will consider names that:

• Inspire students
• Reflect the mission, vision, and values of the DSBN
• Reflect the geographic location or the local community in which the school is located
• May be symbolic of the unique program focus of the school
• Reflect the cultural and racial diversity of the school community
• Depict an event that has shaped life in Niagara, Ontario, or Canada
• Are followed by “Public School” for elementary sites or “Secondary School” for secondary sites

COMMUNITY INPUT ON GENERATING POTENTIAL NAMES

• Input will be sought via DSBN and school communication vehicles including but not limited to newsletters/notices, websites, and social media.
• Naming criteria, along with deadlines for submission of names will be clearly communicated with requests for naming input.
• The input will be presented to the Naming Committee for consideration during their process.

COMMITTEE COMPOSITION

Voting Members

• School Administrator(s) (one per school involved)
• Local School Council representative(s)
• Student representative(s) (Secondary schools only)
• Community representation if available (one per school involved)
• Staff member(s)

Non- Voting Members

• Superintendent of Education (serving as Chair)
• Local Trustee(s) associated with school(s) involved
• Communications Department representative
• DSBN resource staff for support as needed

ROLE OF THE NAMING COMMITTEE

• The committee will be provided with a list of possible names by the Committee Chair gathered from the school community.
• The committee will evaluate suggestions and the information provided based on naming criteria provided.
• The committee will vote using a system outlined at the first meeting by the Committee Chair to select their preferred school name.
• Once the committee has selected their preferred school name and prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees, the recommended name will be shared with the school community to allow time to consider any additional input before the board meeting.
• The Superintendent of Education will submit a final report to the Board of Trustees with the Naming Committee’s recommendation of a school name and the Naming Committee’s rationale for their recommendation for the Board of Trustees to consider at a board meeting.