Committee forwards school-naming recommendation to town council and discusses memorializing Gaudet School

The school building committee approved a recommendation and will forward a memo to the Middletown Town Council for final approval of the new middle–high school's name.

Committee members said the recommendation moved forward from the school committee and that the town council holds final approval authority. The committee discussed how to preserve and memorialize names and dedications associated with the existing J.H. Gaudet School — for example, the gymnasium and the planetarium — and asked architects and staff to assemble a full list of existing named spaces and previously dedicated memorials so those elements can be considered in the new design.

Committee members also discussed fundraising and sponsorship opportunities tied to named spaces (for example, donor bricks or plaques) and asked the project team to share prior documents the consulting team prepared last year listing potential fundraising placements. The committee noted an existing town policy that defines naming authority between the town council and the school committee and asked staff to retrieve that policy to clarify who ultimately approves names for buildings, gymnasiums and interior rooms.

The committee also discussed whether the existing high school would be considered for renaming; members said the town council has authority over building names and that the committee will make recommendations as appropriate.

Ending: The superintendent and project team will gather the list of currently named spaces and any memorial dedications (benches, trees, plaques) for review; staff will also provide the town and school naming policy to the committee for guidance ahead of any formal recommendations to the council.