Quick note on Worcester School Committee process

 Among the items on Thursday's agenda are two on naming: 

• one that's a proposed $350K grant* for Worcester Tech's advanced manufacturing facility in return for calling it the "Gene Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing" for 15 years
• one from Laura Clancey proposing the alternative school be named after the retiring Michael O'Neil 

In terms of process on these, note that we'll be operating under policy FF on naming**. That requires, in part:

Following the submission of a naming request, the School Committee Chair will specify a consideration period that allows for public comment, following which the Committee will deliberate and vote on the name.

We can handle this a number of ways: hold the items until the fall, considering the summer a time of public input; send it subcommittee for public input; and probably more. The main thing is that "a consideration period" is required. 

UPDATE: the first of these was removed from the agenda. The second was referred to administration, as there is working going on with the alternative programs.

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*remember: grants are contracts. I have thoughts here but I am saving them for deliberation.
** yes, the School Committee has a naming policy. Good idea, eh?

Sgt. William Soutra, Jr.

Petty notes that Soutra received the Navy Cross, "a living hero"
the teachers he had are still there
"a great person to look up to"
asking that the gymnasium at Columbus Park be named in his honor

Mary Clifford

entertaining a motion from North High to name science lab 302 after Mary Clifford
O'Connell asking for an recommendations from North on carrying over names from previous buildings
Petty asks if we can make the same motion for Worcester Tech
O'Connell says we did that, but we should look into it
"Naming decisions that should be preserved"