Education reconsiders name game

If Greenbrier Athletic Booster Club member Jon Thornhill has his way, the school's baseball field will be named in honor of retired coach Terry Holder.

And if Rosa Lee Owens - a retired educator - has her way, Grovetown's new middle school will be named in honor of Mayor Dennis Trudeau.

Their requests have prompted the Columbia County Board of Education to revisit its policies on naming schools and related facilities.

''I've been contacted by several individuals with various requests," school Superintendent Tommy Price told the board at its meeting Tuesday night. ''Our policy now prohibits naming schools for an individual but does allow parts of schools to be named, such as libraries and ball fields."

Price said he will draft a policy for naming a school after an individual and take it before the board. Several policies throughout the state have been collected as models.

''You all as a board need to decide what criteria are put into place," Price said. ''This procedure needs to be comprehensive, a deserving honor that is heartfelt countywide. Once you start naming things, you will have a lot of requests from various individuals."

Board trustee Regina Buccaffusco said she would like to see a committee installed to study name requests, and trustee Lee Muns said he would like to have names nominated by petition.

''Whatever we do, there needs to be a solid procedure in place," Price said. ''Once something is named, it's perpetual. It's never going to change."