School committee creates Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee and designates Oak Street campus name

The Franklin School Committee on Aug. 26 voted to create a Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee and to designate the district land on Oak Street and Panther Way — the ECDC, Franklin Middle School and Franklin High School sites — as the Horace Mann Campus.

The committee first approved the subcommittee’s creation and then voted to designate the campus name. The vote to create the subcommittee passed with recorded ayes; the committee chair asked interested members to signal interest so three members could be assigned. Committee members described the subcommittee as the forum that will recommend how to honor Horace Mann’s legacy and how the campus name should be used procedurally (for signage, letterhead or community events), with the final decisions returned to the full school committee for approval.

Why it matters: Horace Mann is historically associated with public‑education reform, and the naming and related activities could affect district branding, signage, community programming and potential costs for implementation. Committee members said clarity of scope is important so the subcommittee will define goals, guardrails and deliverables early in its meetings.

Discussion highlights: Several committee members emphasized the need to define a clear charge and scope for the subcommittee before wider community appointment to avoid open‑ended work. One member said the first task should be to take the “conversation” about naming — previously discussed in policy subcommittee meetings and public input — and make it a concrete plan. The historical commission had already offered to participate, members said. The superintendent clarified that the designation is symbolic at the time of the vote and that concrete uses (signage, letterhead, banners) would be determined by the subcommittee and require separate approvals.

Actions and next steps: The committee asked that the subcommittee meet in September and October to establish goals and guardrails and to return recommendations for the full committee’s consideration. The district will not begin broad use of the campus name (for example on individual school letterhead) until the subcommittee and the full committee provide implementation guidance, members said.

Ending: The motion to create the subcommittee and the motion to name the campus both passed. Committee members encouraged community involvement and said the subcommittee should include school‑committee representatives and invited community liaisons such as the historical commission.