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Regional School District 13 describes naming process; vows to preserve Veterans Memorial cornerstone
Summary
The board described a naming committee process that resulted in selecting 'Three Oaks' for a new elementary site while preserving 'Veterans Memorial' and other historic names in building spaces; a descendant of a woman who laid a cornerstone participated in the committee process.
At the May 4 meeting of Regional School District 13, board members described the formal process used to select a name for a new elementary school and outlined steps to preserve local veterans' memorials and historic cornerstones.
Board members said the naming committee included two board members, two teachers and four residents (two from Durham and two from Middlefield). The committee reviewed survey results the superintendent circulated, shortlisted three names that appeared frequently and presented those options for student voting in classrooms and via Google forms for older grades. The committee then presented its recommendation to the board, which voted on the selection.
Historic preservation: board members emphasized that Veterans Memorial would be preserved as part of the new school's commemorations. The board said memorial names (for example, veterans memorials associated with former schools) would be retained in parts of the new building such as the cafeteria, gymnasium and library; one committee member is a direct descendant of a woman who laid a cornerstone, and the board plans to honor that generational connection.
Why it matters: speakers framed the naming as a community-driven process with substantial student and resident input, not solely a board decision. The board committed to retaining historical references and to honoring veterans in the new facility through dedicated spaces and naming of interior elements.
Next steps: the board confirmed the naming recommendation has been passed to the board for formal ratification and that specific plans (placement of plaques, ceremonies and naming of internal spaces) will follow during design and construction phases.
