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Naming for the New Elementary School at the Reed Site

Naming Policy |What to Expect | Committee | Engagement Timelines

On Feb. 6, 2020, the School Board adopted School Moves. As a result, several schools will shift locations. McKinley Elementary School will move to the Reed Building in Westover. Throughout Spring 2021, impacted communities may be engaged in naming changes or renaming processes to provide recommendations for the School Board to consider.


Naming Policy

On June 7, 2018, the School Board adopted a revised policy for Naming of Facilities Policy which describes:

  • The criteria for naming facilities
  • How APS manages requests to Rename Schools/Facilities

The revised Policy Implementation Procedures (PIP) describes:

  • The membership of naming/renaming committees
  • The process for the committees

Naming Committee Members

McKinley Elementary School Assistant Principal Gina Miller (Committee Chair)
Teacher, McKinley Elementary School Kirsten Walleck (2nd Grade Teacher)
Teacher, McKinley Elementary School Kyra Wohlford (5th Grade Teacher)
McKinley Elementary School PTA President Jon Judah
McKinley Elementary School Student Henry Owen
Tuckahoe Elementary School Parent Preston Mitchell
Highland Park Overly Knolls Civic Association Christina Palo
Leeway Overly Civic Association Vanessa Guest and Julie Pandya
Tara Leeway Heights Civic Association Laura Stout and John Ford
Westover Village Civic Association Norah Marsh
Madison Manor Civic Association Roderick Mackler
Dominion Hills Civic Association Tom Fatouros
Staff Liaisons (Non-Voting)     Daryl Johnson, Communications Coordinator, Family Engagement
Frank Bellavia, Director of Communications

McKinley Naming Committee Memo Jan. 28, 2021


What to Expect Throughout the Naming Process

  • Meeting schedules will be posted on the Engage section of the APS website
  • Interested members of the community may attend meetings to listen
  • Each committee member will be charged with soliciting input from their corresponding school, neighborhood or community groups
  • Minutes of meetings will be posted on the Engage section of the APS website
  • Community input may be solicited via:
    • School or civic group meetings
    • PTA meetings
    • Input/Surveys from: Students, Parents, Community
    • Engage with APS emails
    • Other input as received

Community engagement will be, in part, a responsibility of the committee members to solicit recommendations and input from their corresponding constituent groups. Engagement may include:

  • Reaching out to the member that is associated with your group to ask questions or share your ideas
  • Asking a committee member to talk with your group or share the meeting summaries with your group
  • Participating when opportunities arise for the community to provide feedback (through survey or other opportunities)
  • Sharing information on your organization’s listserv or email group

Timeline for the New Elementary School at the Key Site

DATE ACTIVITY

Pre-Engagement: January 2021

  • Contacted Civic Associations to provide committee members. Provided an overview of process

School Community Engagement: January-March

  • Appoint committee members
  • Establish Committee meeting schedule
  • Develop recommended name with input from the community
  • Members appointed Jan. 21
  • Committees Meeting Dates and Topics
    • Meeting #1 – Wed, Jan. 27, 2021
      • Topics: Introductions; Policy/Process review; Charge
      • Meeting Notes
    • Meeting #2 – Wed, Feb. 10, 2021
      • Topics: Proposing school names for the community questionnaire.
      • Meeting Notes
    • Meeting #3 – Wed. Feb. 24, 2021
      • Decide on the proposed school names that will be included on the community questionnaire.
    • Meeting #4 – Tues. March 16, 2021
      • Determine the primary and alternate proposed school names that will be presented to the School Board.

School Board Meeting Schedule: Jan. – March 2021

  • Appoint Naming Committee Members – Consent – Jan. 21, 2021
  • Information Item – March 25, 2021
  • Action – April 8, 2021