Facilities committee members raised concerns after signs and a plaque identifying the new school as "South Norwalk Neighborhood School" appeared before a planned community naming process. Committee members said protocol called for focus groups and town meetings with the school community before a name was finalized and brought forward for formal votes. "It's a surprise that the name has already been put on the building when all this time we've been talking about it," one committee member said, noting public reaction after images posted to social media. Principal Randall Austin presented community feedback earlier at a special Common Council Land Use hearing; committee members said they were not consulted for public engagement prior to the signage. Facilities staff said a working name is required for state project submissions and that the ground sign and plaque were included in the construction package and approved as part of submittals because no final name had been adopted. "I signed off on it because that's what the ... name being proposed at that time," a facilities staff member said, explaining the sign was intended to be replaceable if a different permanent name is selected. Community members and some committee members said they want a full local engagement process; several committee members requested a meeting between the Facilities Committee and the Common Council Land Use Committee (and the mayor's office) to clarify process and timing. Some callers and committee members proposed naming the school for Dr. Ruby Shaw; others supported retaining a descriptive neighborhood name. Staff said a meeting to coordinate process was being scheduled with the Land Use Committee and the mayor and that the committee would continue its previously planned community meetings to collect feedback. No formal naming action was taken by the Facilities Committee at the meeting.
