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Wentzville board approves name for early childhood center after public nominations; family to be consulted on final signage
Summary
The Wentzville R‑IV board voted to name an early childhood center after a naming‑policy review; board members said Dr. Carolyn Samuelson met naming criteria but moved to adopt ‘Hamilton Early Childhood Center’ and asked staff to confirm family preferences for final sign text.
The Wentzville R‑IV School District Board of Education voted to name an early childhood center during its meeting on April (date not specified) after district staff reported the nomination process and criteria results.
Board members said staff confirmed that one nomination — for Dr. Carolyn Samuelson — met the district’s naming policy criteria. Trustees heard letters and community testimony in support of honoring Dr. Samuelson’s long service to district students.
Despite that, a trustee moved to name the facility “Hamilton Early Childhood Center.” The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote; the board also asked staff to contact family members to confirm the preferred official naming and sign wording before finalizing signage and publicity.
Why this matters: the naming recognizes community figures and the board must follow district policy and consult families. Public commenters had urged naming the building for Dr. Carolyn Samuelson as a tribute to her decades of work in the district.
What board members said: a staff member reported that the Samuelson nomination met the policy criteria. Board members asked administration to reach out to the family about preferred name formats (examples discussed included “Samuelson Early Childhood Center” and “Dr. Carolyn Samuelson Early Childhood Center”) and to provide contact information for family representatives.
What happens next: the board instructed staff to contact the family and to move forward with signage and formalization consistent with the family’s wishes and district policy. No additional public vote on the exact sign wording was recorded in the meeting minutes.
Ending: Board members described the naming as an honor and asked that staff coordinate with the family before final public announcements and sign installation.
