Reader Suggests Naming School for Johnston Grad Killed in Afghanistan

A Johnston Patch reader suggested that the school district name one of its buildings for a Johnston High School graduate who was killed nearly three years ago while serving in Afghanistan.

School leaders say a name change is possible, if community input supports the move and it is approved by the Johnston school board.

Should Johnston Schools name one of its buildings after a Johnston High School graduate killed in military service? Tell us your views in comments below.

A user posted an opinion on the Johnston Patch Boards Tuesday as voters were going to the polls on the bond measure to build a new high school and renovate other buildings.

The reader's post said:

I ask JSCD to consider naming the current Johnston Middle school after U.S. Army Capt. Daniel Whitten. Captain Whitten was a 1999 graduate of Johnston High School and died in the service of his country in Afghanistan in February of 2010. This could be done regardless of the election results. If the bond passes, the Wallace Elementary Building could retain its name (Wallace Administration Building) and the current middle school building could be named Whitten Elementary. If the bond fails, the middle school could still be named after Captain Whitten. His life, service and sacrifice should be honored and remembered.

Clay Guthmiller, superintendent of the Johnston Community School District, said there is a process to follow in order change the name of a school.

“Naming the schools, there is a process you have to go through and that would take board approval,” Guthmiller said. “Certainly we consider all those matters, but there would be a process of how we go through all of that.”

Guthmiller said for new buildings, what has typically been done is to create a committee of staff, community members, students and parents. The group then follows a series of steps to get a consensus on the name of the school.

The committee must follow school board policy. The board policy states in the School-Community Relations, series 1000, Policy Title Citizen’s Advisory Committee: Organization and Dissolution No. 1002.1:

The Board may from time to time appoint citizens' advisory committees to study matters pertaining to the educational issues of the school district. Such committees shall deal with specific issues identified and recognized by school officials.

Such issues may be recommended for study by staff members or groups, interested lay people, or community organizations generally related to the schools.