Title: Consider re-naming of Jefferson Davis Community Middle School

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board change the name of Jefferson Davis Community Middle School in Palm Springs from the list of submitted recommendations by the selection committee in order of preference.

Description:

• Palm Springs Community Middle School

The City of Palm Springs annexed the land where the current school is located in FY05.  The name is a reflection on the roots of our community as seen by our new school boundary and our continued direction as a strong choice program for the arts.  The City council requested the school’s name be Palm Springs Community Middle School at their January 2005 council meeting.

• Tropics Community Middle School

This name has been approved as an alternate choice by the constituents involved in the name change process.  Mottos or catchphrases have been developed as promotional themes for our school choice program of the arts and in keeping with our Hurricane mascot, such as;

            “Come join the ‘Tropics’ where our ‘Eye’ is on education.”

            Or “Tropics: Where exploration and learning is as vast as the sea.”

• Henry Morrison Flagler Community Middle School

This name is the third choice for our school.  As a historical figure Henry Morrison Flagler is responsible for developing a large part of the infrastructure in Florida by building railways, developing tourism, and investing in communities, thereby insuring Florida would become a key to the future of America.  Our school develops the infrastructure of our society by investing in students, ensuring the keys to all our futures are secure in their success.

The selection process consisted of a two-year collaboration of stakeholders through the Name Change Committee, School Advisory Council, Parents, Community Leaders, students, Historical Society representative, Teachers, and Administrators.  (The Historical Society was an active participant in the name change committee and the group discussed all possible names given to them by the Historical Society.)

Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact to the school district.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets(akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Rod Montgomery

Sandra Jinks