Students ask board to rename Memorial Grove for former superintendent Dr. Ralph Johnson
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Summary
New Albany-Plain Local Schools National Honor Society officers asked the board to rename the high school's Memorial Grove the "Dr. Ralph Johnson Memorial Grove," citing Johnson's leadership and long-term impact; the board said it would consider the proposal under district naming policy and take it up at a later meeting.
National Honor Society officers told the New Albany‑Plain Local Schools Board of Education on Feb. 23 that they want the high school’s Memorial Grove renamed to honor former superintendent Dr. Ralph Johnson.
"Our objective today is to honor Dr. Ralph Johnson who was a former superintendent of New Albany Plain Local Schools by renaming Memorial Grove to Dr. Ralph Johnson Memorial Grove," said Zoe Oakley, National Honor Society secretary of tutoring. Students and the chapter adviser outlined Johnson’s tenure (1992–2005), described fundraising and renovation work that led to the new grove, and said the memorial is used regularly as an outdoor learning space.
The students walked the board through the grove’s history, a community fundraising campaign and the placement of plaques; they said the NHS chapter researched candidate wording and voted on the inscription for the back wall. NHS adviser Dr. Russell said the project was a collaboration of students, district staff and community donors and that the naming would be the "final, cherry on top" of the renovation.
Board members asked procedural and practical questions about timing, placement and the district’s naming policy. The administration cited board policy 72 50 (naming district property) and said Dr. Johnson meets the policy’s criteria because of his years of service and districtwide impact. The board did not vote on the request at the meeting.
Superintendent-level staff told trustees the request fits within the district’s naming policy and that the board would have further discussion at a future meeting. "This certainly fits within the policy in terms of the criteria for someone being named," the presiding board member said, noting that the board would not make a decision that night and would fold the request into a broader conversation about naming rights and sponsorships.
Next steps: administrators will place the request on a future agenda for board consideration, and the students said they hope a renaming and rededication ceremony could be scheduled before the end of the school year.