Fairport board unanimously names athletic campus for coach Don Santini

The Fairport Central School District Board of Education voted unanimously to name the Fairport High School athletic campus the Don Santini Athletic Complex.

Board members approved the naming after a student ex officio member described how the recommendation began with students who wanted to honor a coach they said embodied the district’s values. "I really felt his message, and it got me thinking about how one person can affect a whole community," the ex officio student member said.

Superintendent Brett Provenzano said the district does not take naming lightly and praised the thought and consideration that led to the recommendation. A family representative, Chris Koch, spoke about Santini’s decades of service after being invited to the podium; Koch recalled Santini returning to his hometown to teach and coach in 1975 and described the coach’s influence on generations of students and alumni.

The motion to approve the naming was moved and seconded during the business portion of the meeting; the board voted by voice, with the roll concluding as "aye," and the chair announced the motion passed 7-0. Trustees said they will plan a formal ceremony with Santini’s family in the fall; the family had a representative at the meeting but requested a separate celebration because of scheduling.

Why it matters: The naming recognizes a long-serving community figure and will change how the district refers to its athletic facilities, which may affect signage, programs and future references in district materials. The board indicated the change will include a formal acknowledgment event worked out with the family.

The board moved on to other business after the vote; no dissenting or abstaining votes were recorded.