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Facilities committee considers naming SRS basketball courts for Kevin Newsom; asks for structured review process
Summary
Committee received a request to name the SRS basketball courts for the late Kevin Newsom, who helped raise funds and coordinate redevelopment; members asked for a formal evaluation and solicitor input before forwarding a recommendation to the full board.
The facilities and finance committees reviewed a request to name the Swarthmore recreational (SRS) basketball courts after the late Kevin Newsom at the March 19 meeting. Jeff Bergstrom sent a note to Dr. Scanlon proposing the dedication; the committee discussed the district’s policy and recommended a structured review before making a recommendation to the full school board.
Why it matters: Naming district property for an individual is a formal policy decision with reputational and procedural implications. Committee members said a due-diligence process and objective criteria would help ensure consistent treatment of future requests.
Jeff Bergstrom, who sent the letter to the superintendent, described Newsom as “instrumental in setting up that whole redevelopment of the old tennis courts, raising all the money for the basketballs and basketball backboards that are there now” and noted his volunteer coaching and time devoted to the program. Committee members agreed the candidate appeared to be a strong nominee but raised process questions about how the district evaluates naming requests and potential future candidates.
Members recommended drafting a clearer administrative regulation or rubric covering vetting, conflict checks and a record of committee review. One committee member suggested involving the district solicitor to design a standard evaluation and a due-diligence background check so the district would not later face unexpected reputational issues. The transcript records a committee decision to move the request forward in the process so the full board can consider it; the facilities committee’s role is to make a recommendation to the full board under the district policy.
Ending: The committee will prepare a recommendation and administrative guidance for naming requests and forward the request and committee record to the full board for consideration. No formal vote on renaming was recorded at the March 19 committee meeting.
