The Choctaw Plaindealer

Some residents of Ackerman and Choctaw County would like to see the name of Ackerman Elementary School changed to Lt. Colonel Charles Lafrancis Thomas Elementary School.

During the Dec. 8 Choctaw County School Board meeting, Maria Macon of Polish, Inc. who submitted a resolution and petition with 339 signatures to change the name of AES to the Lt. Colonel Charles Lafrancis Thomas Elementary School after the late Charles Thomas.

Macon said they would like the name changed but not just as a token.

"We present the resolution with an addition-not just token but to include all literature with the school's name and the marquee with the name so it can be seen," said Macon.

Donna Nail, superintendent, said the board policy states an individual has to be deceased three years before a building can be named after them.

"This is an opportunity to do something that hasn't been done before, in lieu of the three year requirement," said Macon.

District 3 School Board member Linda McDaniel said the policy states a building but doesn't address the name of a school itself.

Board President Pennie Brasher said the board would look into the matter further to more research and research the legalities of a school name change.

Macon said the group would also do legal research.

The board policy on naming of school facilities states the school district may name a school facility "for persons of good character and prominence who have made outstanding contributions to the school system."

The policy states "the board will consider requests from school and community groups in the naming of a portion of a building, a single building on a campus with multiple building, or a specific area of a school campus."

It also states the criteria for an individual to have a school facility named in their honor. The criteria is the order must have a unanimous support of the school board, as indicated by a 5-0 vote legally recorded in the school board minutes and the individual must also have made a contribution to the school system through financial support, school community, state or national work that led to the improvement of school facilities, the advancement and enrichment of student learning, the enhancement of instruction and/or acclaim or distinction of the school district and individual must have been deceased for three or more years.

Also the policy states the board resolution shall indicate the contribution made by the individual and the significance of their contribution to the school district.

Before addressing the Choctaw County School Board with the name change request, Macon approached the Ackerman Board of Aldermen, the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors and the Weir Board of Aldermen.

In the Dec. 2 meeting of the Ackerman Board of Aldermen they passed a resolution supporting the name change of Ackerman Elementary School to Charles L. Thomas Elementary School.

In the Dec. 8 meeting of the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors, Macon asked for their support of the resolution and petition.

After a discussion, the supervisors said they could not ethically pass the resolution as a board but could sign the petition individually.

Macon said she addressed the Weir Board of Aldermen in their Dec. 8 board meeting and according to her; the aldermen signed the petition individually.