The Stoughton School Committee is preparing to overhaul its facility naming rules to allow high school students a direct role in branding the town’s new $90.2 million elementary school. During a special meeting on April 28, officials discussed extending deadlines and waiving signature requirements to accommodate a 10th-grade civics project that seeks to research and propose names for the building currently known as the South School.

Member Jenn Sears unveiled an initial list of 28 suggestions submitted by the community, ranging from local figures to school spirit monikers. Among the early contenders are Dr. Joseph Baeta Elementary School, Charlotte Williams Foster Myers, Southwest, Black Knights Elementary School, Little Knights Elementary School, Dorr, Stoughton Educators Elementary School, South Elementary School, David Fisher, [and] E.A. Jones Elementary School. Sears highlighted Myers specifically, noting she served as a principal at the original South School until 1976.

The push for a student-centered process was sparked by Julie, a Stoughton High School history teacher, who asked the board to align the naming timeline with state-required civics projects. The 10th-grade teachers are anticipating a desire by some students to make a proposal for the school name, she said, explaining that students are currently researching Stoughton residents who were killed in battle. An unidentified student also urged the committee to grant voting power to the youth, stating, I feel like at least until the ninth grade, students should vote as well because many people in the high school have also attended the school.

To facilitate this, the committee is considering significant deviations from Policy FF, which governs the dedication of facilities. The current policy requires a petition of 500 resident signatures to name a building after a person—a hurdle members admitted might be too high for a classroom project. Superintendent Joseph Baeta suggested the board has the authority to be flexible. Policy is policy, but the board can step outside of that policy and say, 'We're going to amend the policy in this case,' Baeta said. He noted that while a name is needed by August for temporary ceremonial signage, the final decision does not need to be rushed.

The naming debate also revealed a philosophical divide over the school’s geographic identity. Member Jillian Distefano expressed concern that retaining the South name could alienate students moved to the building through the town’s redistricting process. They might feel like they're being a guest at the South School if it's named that way, Distefano said. I definitely agree it really shouldn't be the 'South' since it's incorporating many different students and residents of our town.

Sears offered a different perspective, arguing that geographic names are part of the town’s historical fabric. Growing up, we had the North School and the West School, Sears countered. I still think it should be something, but it is still on the south side of town.

TJ Calter of the building committee shared details of the site’s history, noting the design was influenced by the Old Colony train station line and a commitment to preserving the existing landscape. We did a full inventory of every tree on site so that we can preserve as much as possible, Calter said, describing the facility as a forward-looking school.

Chair Chris Shannon signaled a willingness to move the current May 5 deadline to optimize community and student input. It sounds like extending the deadline is feasible and preferred so that we can optimize, Shannon said. He also humored the possibility of more modern naming trends, asking the Superintendent if Schooley McSchoolface would remain a viable temporary option during the transition.

While Member Karen Powers and Vice Chair Armando Barbosa did not offer extensive comments during the debate, both participated in the consensus to allow the naming subcommittee to coordinate with high school staff. The subcommittee, led by Sears and Distefano, will now work to integrate student research into a final list of recommendations expected later this spring.