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Clarke County board splits on facility-naming rules and sends staff-involvement policy back for revision
Summary
Board members sharply debated a proposed facility-naming policy that would increase the role of school LSGTs in naming and renaming, and the board sent the staff-involvement policy (GAC) back to staff for further revisions after procedural and representational concerns were raised.
The Clarke County School District board spent substantial time in September debating changes to its facility-naming policy and whether to keep an explicit policy on staff involvement in decision making.
On the first read of the revised facility-naming policy (FDC), board members raised repeated concerns that the draft gives local school governance teams (LSGTs) too much influence and could reduce timely board oversight. "I really, am opposed to this being a first read," board member Dr. Lakisha Gant said during the work session, arguing that LSGTs do not always represent the student populations and that renaming a school is a significant action that should stay under board purview. Other members pushed for clearer, step-by-step language, separate procedures for renaming an entire school versus naming rooms or athletic fields, and a requirement that applications and recommendations be shared with the superintendent and board.
Mark Evans and other supporters said the draft does not remove the board’s authority and argued that LSGTs can provide community input without replacing board decision-making. "We are not giving any of our power away at all," Evans said, adding that renaming a school requires state actions such as changing a school code and is therefore a serious step.
Separately, the regular meeting saw a contentious debate over policy GAC, which would codify staff involvement in district decision-making. Some trustees described the policy as aspirational and useful for anchoring staff participation; others said it is vague, risks being "weaponized," and overlaps with existing advisory groups. Board member Mary P. Bagby moved to remove GAC from the evening’s votes and return it to staff for further iteration; that substitute motion passed after debate. An earlier motion to rescind the policy outright failed.
The board agreed to send the naming policy back to the ad hoc committee for revisions reflecting the requested clarifications — including explicit steps, frequency/permanency language, and accompanying regulations — and to return GAC to staff for additional work before a future vote.
Next steps: the ad hoc committee will revise the naming policy and present updated language at a future meeting; district staff will rework GAC and circulate a revised draft to trustees before its next appearance on the agenda.
