Scituate to use student-led process to name new Cushing elementary; groundbreaking set for Oct. 3, 2025

The Scituate School Committee voted unanimously April 7 to have Superintendent Birkhead convene a representative working group to develop a student-centered process for naming the district’s new elementary building in the Cushing project and to report recommendations back to the committee for formal approval.

“My recommendation would be that the kids have a say in what the new name of the school is and something, some kind of a process where it’s very student driven and student centered,” Superintendent Birkhead said during the meeting, describing the proposed charge of the group.

Committee members discussed composition of the working group, with Birkhead proposing representatives from each school and a mix of parents, teachers, support staff and community members while avoiding an overly large panel. Birkhead told the committee he would provide timelines and could present draft plans for committee feedback. He suggested the process should honor the histories of the two schools being combined and recommended aiming to complete naming within approximately one year so the new mascot, logo and related design elements can be incorporated into the building and gym design.

The motion approved by the committee directs the superintendent to establish “a representative working group of stakeholders with the charge of developing a student-led process naming the new elementary building … reporting recommendations to the school committee for official approval and voting.” The motion passed without recorded opposition.

The committee also approved a related motion to form a small leadership working group to plan the project’s ceremonial groundbreaking and set the groundbreaking date for Oct. 3, 2025, with a rain date of Oct. 10, 2025. Superintendent Birkhead reported the building project is “on schedule and under budget” and noted that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will participate in the ceremonial activities; the committee asked to review the ceremony plan before the event.

Birkhead said early decisions about mascot and logo placement will help architects and designers and that student involvement in the naming and mascot selection can help bring the two sending-school communities together ahead of occupancy. Committee members asked for draft timelines and for representatives of the working group to report back as planning progresses.

Votes at a glance • Motion to establish a representative, student-centered naming working group (charge: develop student-led naming process and report recommendations to the school committee). Outcome: approved (voice vote: “Aye”). • Motion to authorize a small leadership group to plan the groundbreaking and set ceremony dates (groundbreaking: Oct. 3, 2025; rain date: Oct. 10, 2025). Outcome: approved (voice vote: “Aye”).