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Board keeps 'Urbana Sixth Grade Center' name, designates land the 'Flossie Wiley campus'
Summary
After a naming‑committee review, the board voted to retain the building name 'Urbana Sixth Grade Center' and to name the land on which it sits the 'Flossie Wiley campus'; board members discussed plaque placement and possible library displays to preserve local history.
Imani Carr, facilitator of the naming facilities committee and principal of the building currently called the Urbana Sixth Grade Center, presented the committee’s recommendation after three meetings and community input. The committee reviewed options including naming the building for Flossie Wiley, dedicating a wing or library, or naming the land. Carr said the committee recommended retaining the name 'Urbana Sixth Grade Center' for the building at 1602 South Anderson Street and naming the land 'the Flossie Wiley campus' to honor Wiley and the Wiley community while maintaining district naming conventions.
Board members asked about preserving historical plaques from earlier iterations of the site, including a bronze plaque for Dr. Brookins. One board member said family members had asked what would happen to the plaque; Carr said plaque placement was not part of the committee discussions and referred the question back to the board. Another board member confirmed the Brookins plaque is set aside at the district shop.
The board moved, seconded and approved the naming recommendation by roll call. After the vote the board formally discharged the naming facilities committee and thanked members for their work.
Why it matters: Naming public school facilities can be a focal point for local history and community identity. The board's decision attempts to balance honoring Flossie Wiley with consistency in building naming and practical considerations about signage and historic displays.
What’s next: Board members asked staff to consider locations for commemorative displays (for example, a case outside the library) and how to document the building’s history for public reference.
