On March 8, the District School Board of Niagara voted to establish a committee to consider a number of potential names for the soon-to-be expanded E.W Farr Memorial School, which will be absorbing students from Pelham Centre in 2017.
In an email, DSBN Chair Dale Robinson was quick to note that a name change is not a foregone conclusion.
“The decision has been made only to establish a committee which will consider a number of potential names, including retaining the E W Farr Memorial name,” she said.
This is standard procedure when schools merge, claims Robinson: “When the DSBN undertakes the consolidation of two school communities into one, the option of creating a new name is always considered.”
The committee make-up and procedures are governed by DSBN Policy A 09. That policy explains that the committee will be provided with a list of names by the Committee Chair, and will then evaluate those suggestions based on specific naming criteria.
“The E.W. Farr, Pelham Centre Naming Committee will seek input from both school communities, as well as from the wider community of Fenwick,” explained Robinson. “They will then choose three names from which the board of trustees will select. The first ranked- the most popular name submitted by the committee- is usually the name selected.”
The committee will consist of Robinson, one or both principals, the superintendent of education for both schools, as well as School Council and student representatives, and a community representative. The committee will meet three times, beginning in April.
“We are excited to be able to construct a beautiful facility, in a beautiful location, that will bring all of our elementary students together in one school and make lives simpler for all of their families in Fenwick,” said Robinson. “We are also looking forward to engaging with the community throughout all phases of the project.”
