What better way to get involved with a school than to name it?
The Austin Public School system in Minnesota is reaching out to various constituencies—including parents and the public—for ideas about what name to give to its new intermediate school for 5th and 6th graders.
The school board has tapped the power of the internet to solicit input. The public can go online to share ideas for the new Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics (STEAM) school, for which voters approved a $28.9 million bond issue in November.
According to the Austin Post-Bulletin, a citizens work group will also be appointed to come up with recommendations for the name. At least one teacher, parent, student, administrator, business person, and member of the general public will be appointed to this group, which will come up with three to five name suggestions for the August school board meeting.
Hats off to the Austin board, which is tapping into the very essence of “owning” a school. By participating in the naming of their newest educational institution, those in the Austin community will recognize it as “theirs"—which lays the groundwork for community and family involvement in the school.