What would you call Farmington’s new schools?

Talk about it

When the new Farmington High School opens next fall, three District 192 school buildings will have new purposes and possibly new names. Members of the Farmington Area Public Schools community are being asked to suggest new names for all three buildings — the current high school, Farmington Middle School West, and Farmington Middle School East — over the next several weeks.

In the fall of 2009, the current high school will become a middle school for grades 6-8; Farmington Middle School West will go from serving grades 8 and 9 to serving grades 6-8; and Farmington Middle School East will become the district’s fifth elementary school.

Suggestions for the three schools will be taken until 4 p.m. on Oct. 31. A naming committee of parents, residents and staff members will then go through the suggestions and bring recommendations to the school board later this year.

Community members interested in submitting names can do so by filling out suggestion forms, including both their suggested name and rationale. Those forms are available online at the District 192 web site and at all District 192 buildings. They can be submitted at school locations, or sent by mail to the District Services Center at 421 Walnut St., Farmington, MN 55024.

District policy on naming school buildings includes a number of guidelines, including that names should have equal relevance for all, may reflect geographical landmarks and must include the building’s function — such as ‘elementary school.’ Buildings may be named after individuals if the individual has attained local or national prominence, the person’s contributions clearly establish a place in history beyond the generation of contribution and the person is no longer active in his or her career.

For more information about the district’s naming policy, to download a naming submission form, or to submit a name online, go to www.farmington.k12.mn.us/naming.

Tags: education, naming, schools