Published: August 06, 2008 11:00 am      

Name that school

District is seeking public's help

The 19th century English minister Charles H. Spurgeon admonished all people to “carve your name on hearts, not on marble,” for in his opinion, “a good character is the best tombstone.”

While few may differ with Spurgeon’s philosophy, San Marcos CISD is taking the issue a step further. The district wants to name a new school – perhaps after someone of good character in the community, or in history, who carved their names on our hearts – and embellish the name, if not in marble, at least in stone, on a building dedicated to learning that would be a lasting monument.

In January 2009, the current Goodnight Junior High School will move during the mid-year holiday break into its newly renovated facility located at 1301 Highway 123 (the former high school).

Renovations will immediately begin on the former Goodnight location at 1805 Peter Garza Drive, converting it into a new San Marcos CISD elementary school that will open in fall 2009.

According to SMCISD School Board Policy, a special ad hoc committee has been appointed to oversee the naming of the new facility.

The committee consists of both district employees and community representatives who will accept nominations from the public and present three recommendations to the board for consideration. Additional guidelines in the board policy include:

• The names of living persons shall not be considered.

• Future campuses shall be named after historical figures, geographic sites, communities, or significant local, state or national heroic individuals.

The ad hoc Naming Committee is accepting names to be considered for the new school by the deadline of Sept. 2.

Submission forms outlining School Board Policy guidelines are available at all SMCISD campus front offices, in the front offices of Central Administration and the Lamar Annex, and on the district Web site at www.smcisd.net.

The forms are available in English and Spanish.