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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 Report 07-018 Sponsored Naming of Schools & Board Facilities Date: 30 January 2007 Report No. 07-018 to Chairs’ Committee Re: Sponsored Naming of Schools/Board Facilities ORIGINATOR: Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis, Director of Education (ext. 8219) PURPOSE: 1. To obtain input with respect to the possible extension of board policy regarding the naming of schools to include the naming of board buildings, including schools, and the naming of facilities within buildings in recognition of generous philanthropic benefactions. STATUS: 2. Policy P.107.FAC (attached as Appendix A) establishes the rules which school communities must follow when recommending to the board a name for a school. This could apply to new schools, as well as to re-naming existing schools. 3. Schools have been named after prominent citizens for many years. Recently, many new schools have been named after famous Canadians who have contributed to the arts and sciences. 4. A number of schools have named a library or an auditorium after a person, usually a teacher or other employee, who has contributed significantly to the school. 5. The Board has undertaken a number of activities to supplement revenue provided through government grants. These include recruiting overseas students and providing services to overseas educators and students through OCENET, establishing partnerships with other public sector providers (Outdoor Education Council of Ottawa) and the private sector (Ameresco), and encouraging donations to the Education Foundation of Ottawa. 6. Previous attempts to recognize donations, for example by placing a corporate logo on a school score board, have been denied. However, schools and school boards have, through recent financial hardship, sought and established partnerships with commercial enterprises that have provided goods, services and money. Recent examples locally include Ameresco’s sponsorship of the board’s EarthCARE program, GM’s Saturn sponsorship of a playground at Cambridge Street Community School, and Indigo’s grant to Pinecrest Public School. In these cases, recognition of the contributions have been made through media releases, special events, notices and signs and accepting the gifts was often conditional on this sort of public recognition. 7. A form of contribution which has not been recognized directly by naming a room or building after the contributor is a financial contribution by an individual, group or business. Philanthropic gifts to the school board can make possible the construction or restoration of buildings, or the development or extension of programs. 8. Naming a space or building in recognition of a benefactor would be a departure from current practice. This is a well-established custom in the private sector for sports and performing arts venues and commercial properties, and in many of our publicly-funded higher education institutions and hospitals (refer to Appendix B). This does is not the current practice for public school boards. 9. Naming recognition for an unsolicited financial contribution could be done after the fact or it could be as a condition of accepting a contribution. In either case, the recognition could apply to the name of a space within, or associated with, a building (auditorium, hallway, foyer, science lab, classroom, office, gymnasium, cafeteria, library, playing field, playground, etc.) or to the name of a building (school, administrative office, annex, etc.) 10. Before potential financial benefactors are approached, it is essential that the Board determine if it wishes to adopt a policy that recognizes benefactors through the naming of buildings or spaces. 11. A policy should consider factors such as: a) is it applicable to individuals, groups, institutions, or commercial enterprises? b) if for living persons, inclusion of a character clause outlining conditions with which the recognition must comply; c) any other restrictions as to contributor; d) is it applicable to schools or spaces in schools? other board properties? e) length of time the board commits to the name ; f) will there be fixed fees or negotiated (if so, minimum?); g) specifics regarding words to be used in the name, e.g., for schools, use of the word “public”; h) what is the role/involvement of local community? SUMMARY: 12. Schools have accepted donations from benefactors and have provided public recognition, sometimes as a condition of receiving the donation. Schools have named rooms after staff and volunteers who have made significant non-financial contributions to the schools. The Board often names schools after significant individuals. Universities and hospitals have named buildings and parts of buildings after benefactors who have made significant contributions, usually as a condition of accepting the donations. If staff are to approach potential philanthropic benefactors, the Board must establish a policy which specifies the condition under which it is willing to accept donations and how the donation will be recognized. SUBMITTED FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION. ________________________________ Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis Director of Education/ Secretary of the Board ____________________________________________________________________________________ -1- P.107.FAC POLICY P.107.FAC TITLE: NAMING OF SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FACILITIES AND OPENING CEREMONIES Date issued: 21 November 2001 Last Revised: 14 November 2005 Authorization: Board: 10 September 2001 1.0 OBJECTIVE 1.1 To provide a framework for naming schools and educational support facilities. 1.2 To recognize and celebrate the official opening of new schools, major additions, or other educational support facilities, including adjacent day care centres and municipal facilities. 2.0 POLICY 2.1 It is the policy of the Board that the following shall be used as guidelines in the selection of the names for new schools or educational support facilities or renaming a school or educational support facility: (a) in honour of a famous Canadian event, achievement, or individual; or (b) in recognition of an individual for outstanding lifetime contribution to the educational community, or (c) in recognition of a local historical contribution by a resident or family, or (d) the street, road, major thoroughfare or geographical feature on which, or near to where, the school is located, or (e) the village, town, subdivision or community in which the school is located. 2.2 A major component of the school such as a library, gymnasium or day care unit may be named to recognize a particular or outstanding lifetime contribution of a member of the community. 2.3 All future schools offering programs from kindergarten to grade 8, or any other elementary grade configuration, shall have the designation “Public School” as part of the official name. 2.4 The official opening of a new school, major addition to an existing school or other educational support facility is a central Board function for which the Chair and members of the Board of Trustees are official hosts. An official opening ceremony shall involve, as fully as possible, parents, school council chair, students, staff, municipal/provincial/ federal officers, and the general public in a single ceremony. 3.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES 3.1 Care should be taken to avoid similarities with the names of existing schools within the district. 3.2 The Board's logo and name shall be incorporated into the overall design of new school signage and, subject to the availability of funds, existing schools and educational support facilities. 3.3 The official school opening should be structured with minimum formality and feature participation by students, staff, community representatives, the Chair of the Board and the local trustee. 3.4 If the school has been named after a famous Canadian or in recognition of a significant educational or local historical contribution by a resident or family, the Official Opening Committee shall endeavour to recognize the individual(s) and/or contributions within the official ceremony. 3.5 The Director of Education is authorized to issue any necessary procedures to implement this policy. 4.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS The Education Act, 2000, Section 195 Board Procedure PR.630.FAC: Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities Board Procedure PR.599.COM: Official Opening Ceremonies – New Schools ____________________________________________________________________________________ -2- P.107.FAC QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY NAMING POLICY Approved October 1996 Amended November 2002 Approved by the Board of Trustees December 2002 1. BACKGROUND The naming of university activities or property is a well-established custom at Queen's University. From named Chairs and awards to named buildings and gardens, Queen's University welcomes the opportunity to honour those who have rendered outstanding service to the University, the Province of Ontario, to Canada, or internationally. It also welcomes the opportunity to honour individuals whose generous philanthropic benefactions make possible the construction or restoration of buildings, the establishment of endowed chairs, the development of programs. 2. RATIONALE Several factors make it desirable to update and consolidate the existing policy that guides the granting of named recognition at Queen's University: • the need to provide a protocol for establishing permanent recognition to those who render outstanding benefaction and/or exemplary service to the University; • the need to promote consistency in the tributes paid by the University to its supporters; • the need to ensure appropriate utilization of the very limited number of naming opportunities;1 • the need to provide guidelines for those involved in discussions with donors 3. SCOPE This policy guides the granting of named recognition at Queen’s University for: • buildings or substantial parts of buildings (wings, rooms, laboratories) or other locations on campus such as roadways • special research, teaching, recreational, service or other facilities • programs of research, teaching • departments, faculties, schools • programs of service or recreation • lectureships, special lecture series, awards for excellence in teaching, research, or performance of other academic responsibilities • fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, prizes and other student awards • endowed chairs,professorships • library collections of books or other materials • series of publications produced by a division or department; endowed publication grants for books not designated as part of a series; awards for outstanding publications • collections of works of art • trophies and other awards for extracurricular achievement • such other entities as the University may from time to time see fit to name in order to recognize service or philanthropic donations2 4. GENERAL NAMING POLICY 4.1 Ultimate authority to accept or decline any proposal to name at Queen's University rests with the Board of Trustees.3 4.2 Ultimate authority to discontinue the designated name of a building, room, or area, or to transfer the name to another building, room, or area at Queen’s University rests with the Board of Trustees. 4.3 Consistent with Queen's University's Gift Acceptance Policy4, the acceptance of any philanthropic donation which involves a proposal to name is conditional upon approval of the naming by the Board of Trustees.5 4.4 Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, no naming will be approved or (once approved) continued that will call into serious question the public respect of the University. 4.5 No name will be approved that will imply the University's endorsement of a partisan political or ideological position or of a commercial product. This does not preclude a naming with the name of an individual who has at one time held public office or with the name of an individual or a company that manufactures or distributes commercial products. 4.6 When permanent named recognition has been extended for a gift received, it will be honoured in perpetuity. In the event of changed circumstances, e.g. a facility no longer exists, the University reserves the right to determine the form which such permanence may take. 4.7 From time to time, it may be appropriate to offer named recognition for a limited period of time. In this case, Queen's is obligated to honour the name for that period of time, subject to renewal of the opportunity. 4.8 The University may choose to extend recognition through a naming (e.g. a named building) after a donor/donors provided that the donor will provide all or a major part of the cost of funding the facility or activity. "Major" is deemed to mean either a significant part of the cost, or a contribution which is regarded as central to the completion of the facility or activity, and represents a substantial part of its value. 4.9 Provisions in this policy that refer to naming for a benefactor also in general apply to naming for a third party at the wish of a benefactor. 4.10 Only in exceptional circumstances will facilities or activities be named to honour outstanding service of members of faculty or staff while the honoree remains in the full time employment of the University. Members of faculty and staff making philanthropic donations remain eligible for naming recognition. 4.11 The University Secretariat shall be responsible for maintaining and updating an inventory of named facilities. 4.12 The Director of Development for Donor Relations and Stewardship shall advise on consistent application of current, approved naming policies with respect to recognition of philanthropic donations. 4.13 The University Secretariat shall advise on consistent application of current, approved naming policies with respect to recognition of outstanding service. 4.14 The University reserves the right to decide on the physical displays which may accompany named recognition. 5. GUIDELINES TO NAMING PROCEDURES 5.1 Approval Process 5.1.1 Individuals contemplating a naming opportunity to recognize outstanding service are to consult with the University Secretary for information and expertise. 5.1.2 Individuals contemplating a naming opportunity to recognize philanthropic donations are to consult with the Department of Development for information and expertise. 5.1.3 The University Secretary and the Director of Development for Donor Relations and Stewardship are to consult for all proposed namings. 5.1.4 If a building, room, or area is to be named, the Principal shall determine whether the recommendation has the support of the occupants of the building or users of the area and the University community. 5.1.5 If the Principal is satisfied that the proposal falls within the policy guidelines, or is sufficiently unique to justify special consideration, the Principal shall write in confidence to members of the Board, outlining the reasons for the proposal and requesting that Trustees respond within ten days. 5.1.6 The Principal and the Chair of the Board shall consider any objections that are received and decide whether a formal motion should go forward to the Board. 5.1.7 The same procedure as outlined above shall be followed when there is a recommendation to discontinue the designated name of a building, room, or area, or to transfer the name to another building, room, or area. 5.1.8 Where wider consultation is deemed appropriate by the University Secretary, the Director of Development, and/or the Principal, a Naming Committee may be struck by the Principal to advise him regarding a proposed naming. The Committee will include representation from: • University Secretariat • Department of Development • Campus Planning & Development • Principal's Office • others as required 5.1.9 The Principal may elect to endorse or reject the Committee's recommendation in forwarding his proposals to the Board of Trustees for a final decision. 5.2 Negotiating Named Recognition for Philanthropic donations: 5.2.1 It is the responsibility of individuals negotiating on behalf of the University to consult with the Department of Development when gifts involve a proposal to name. 5.2.2 It is the responsibility of individuals negotiating on behalf of the University to advise potential benefactors that the acceptance of any philanthropic donation which involves a proposal to name is conditional upon final approval of the naming by the Board of Trustees. 5.2.3 Namings are subject to satisfactory funding arrangements for the full cost of the project. When the philanthropic donation does not meet the full cost of the project, namings are subject to completion of satisfactory funding arrangements, and the naming will become official only after that is achieved. 5.2.4 The Director of Development for Donor Relations and Stewardship is responsible for securing approval from the Principal/Vice/Principals' Committee for schedules of naming opportunities and the level of philanthropic donation required for each. APPENDIX ONE: Related Policies Queen’s University: Report on Principles and Priorities. Approved by Senate January 25, 1996. www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/policies/princpri/princpri.html Queen's University's Gift Acceptance Policy www.queensu.ca/secretariat/trustees/policy/gift.html ________________________________________ 1 Spaces available for naming are by definition limited. This affects the Universty's future ability to honour benefactions or distinguished contributions of service. Other ways of recognizing outstanding individuals should be considered. 2 Refers to philantropic donations made to Queen's University and any of its subsidiaries or affiliated organizations, including the Crown Foundation at Queen's University at Kingston and the U.S. Foundation for Queen's University at Kingston. 3 In the case of named academic appointments (i.e. Chairs, Professorships), or named awards (i.e. scholarships, prizes), details of the terms of reference, including namings, are apporved by the University Senate. If the University Secretary (whose role includes Secretary of the Senate, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and Secretary of the University) identifies a concern with respect to a proposed naming, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Board of Trustees for final decision. 4 See Queen's University's Gift Acceptance Policy, items 4.6; 4.9.1 5 When schedules for naming opportunities and the level of philantropic donation required for each have been developed, gifts given at the established level will be accepted, and a proposal to name will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for approval.