Subcommittee approves nomination form to solicit names for Lowell High academic building

The Lowell City School Committee ad hoc building naming subcommittee approved a public nomination form to solicit nominations for the new academic building at Lowell High School and discussed a previously referred request to name the building for the late Sen. Edward J. Kennedy.

The subcommittee chair said the form, included in the meeting packet, collects the nominee’s name, a written biography, a rationale for the request and any letters of support so administration can perform background checks and vet nominees before recommending a name to the full school committee. "It's basically just a a a form that allows people to make their nominations for any naming opportunity," the chair said.

Dominic Lay originally submitted a motion at the full school committee to propose naming the new academic building at the corner of Arcand Drive and Father Morissette Boulevard for Edward J. Kennedy. In the subcommittee meeting, a member said "The form looks simple enough, and I I would move to approve it," and the chair then made a formal motion to adopt the nomination form, which was seconded and approved by the subcommittee. The chair told members, "we'll be able to, get this out in our first meeting in January so that it'll go out to the general public," signaling the form will be published in January and nominations accepted thereafter.

The subcommittee described the next steps as: publish the nomination form, accept public submissions, allow administration to vet nominees based on the submitted materials and letters of support, and then bring any naming recommendation back to the full school committee for a final vote.

The meeting also included routine audio checks and brief procedural items; members moved to adjourn after approving the form.The subcommittee did not take a final naming vote; the transcript shows the nomination form approval was a procedural step to begin public solicitation and vetting.