Southside Elementary School Naming Process

April 15, 2024 Update - Naming Process Resumed

We are pleased to announce that the naming process for MMSD’s newest elementary school - temporarily called Southside Elementary - has restarted.

Thanks to the community’s investment in our public schools during the 2020 referendum, the district constructed a new elementary school connected to Badger Rock Middle School. The new school, which opened fall 2023, has temporarily been called Southside Elementary until a permanent name is chosen.

The naming process for Southside Elementary began last winter, following Board Policy 6700. From February 7 through March 9, 2023, the public had an opportunity to submit naming proposals. Seventy-four proposals were received during that timeframe. However, before a citizens’ naming committee was determined, the MMSD Board of Education decided to pause the work of naming the new school due to superintendent transitions.

With the Board concluding their work to hire a new superintendent, the naming process will resume. Another opportunity to submit naming proposals is available to the public from 8 a.m. on April 16 to 10 p.m. on April 30, 2024; the 74 previously submitted proposals will be included and do not need to be resubmitted. Proposals can be submitted on this page starting at 8 a.m. on April 16 when the proposal form goes live.

Background

This web page has been created to keep the community informed of our work as we progress through the naming process for the new elementary school in the Rimrock area. We will use typical communication channels to keep our district informed of updates -- including newsletters, website, social media, etc. Targeted communications will be sent to the Southside Elementary school community.

Meeting Notice

Ad Hoc Committee meeting dates/times, agendas, and minutes are published on BoardDocs.

View meeting agendas and notices

Meetings are also broadcast on the Board of Education's YouTube channel.

Watch meetings on YouTube

Southside Elementary School Naming Proposal Submission Form

Proposals can be submitted beginning at 8 a.m. on April 16, 2024 through 10 p.m. on April 30, 2024 by completing the form below.

Required

What individuals/groups are proposing the name?required

Your name

Email address of person completing this formrequired

What is the proposed name?required

Into which of these categories does the proposed name fall?required

Prominent national or local figure who is deceased

Locally significant geographical site

Place of local significance

Idea or concept which represents a broadly respected civic virtue

If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, describe why this person is considered prominent. “Prominent” is defined as “widely and popularly known.”required

If the proposed name is a prominent local or national figure who is deceased, what is the significance of the person specifically to the Madison Metropolitan School District that it should choose to name a school for this particular person over others of similar prominence?required

If the proposed name is a locally significant geographical site or a place of local significance, what is the significance to the Madison Metropolitan School District? For what reason would the Madison Metropolitan School District choose to name a building for this particular geographical site or place of local significance?required

If the proposed name is an idea or concept which is a broadly respected community value, what is the significance of this idea or concept to the Madison Metropolitan School District? For what reason would the Madison Metropolitan School District choose to name a building for this particular idea or concept? required

Timeline

Date	Meeting/Item	Details
Ongoing	Submit feedback/ public input	All community members are invited to submit feedback, which will be received by the Board of Education and Ad Hoc Committee. Please use the feedback form below.
April 16-30, 2024	Submit naming proposal	A second window is available for the public to submit naming proposals, from 8 a.m. on April 16 to 10 p.m. on April 30, 2024. Use the naming form above.
April 15, 2024	Board of Education Regular Meeting	The naming process has restarted (notice, agenda).
April 24, 2023	Board of Education Regular Meeting	The Board announced it has paused the work of naming the new Southside Elementary School.
February 7 - March 9, 2023	Submit naming proposal	Per School Board Policy (6700), the public has a minimum 30-day window to submit proposals that meet specific criteria (see below). The window for submitting proposals closed at 8 a.m. on March 9, 2023.
February 6, 2023	Board of Education Instruction Work Group	The Superintendent and the Board of Education began the process for naming the new southside elementary school.

As meetings and process items are confirmed, they will be added to this list for easy reference.

Board Policy 6700

Board of Education Role

Board of Education Role and Ad Hoc Committee

The Board of Education established a 12-member ad hoc committee composed of community members at a special meeting on March 14, 2022. These members are recommended by Board of Education members. The chairperson for the committee is then designated by the Board President. Once the proposals are gathered, this committee will then begin its work in accordance with the policy.

Below is a more detailed description of the role of the Board of Education in this process:

Appoint a Citizens Naming Committee. The Citizens Naming Committee shall consist of twelve individuals and a chairperson appointed by the Board President and approved by the BOARD OF EDUCATION. Each Board Member may recommend up to five names to serve on the Committee, and the Board President shall select Committee members from these names. The BOARD OF EDUCATION shall strive to ensure that the Citizens Naming Committee is representative of the District as a whole.
The chairperson will be selected by the President of the BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Establish a date by which the work of the Citizens Naming Committee must be completed.

Ad Hoc Committee Members

Citizens' Ad Hoc Committee Membership List

Members of the committee will be determined by the Board of Education at an upcoming meeting.
The Board of Education will establish a 12-member ad hoc committee composed of community members at this meeting. These members are recommended by Board of Education members. The chairperson for the committee is then designated by the Board President.

Staff Representative
Carlettra Stanford, Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools
Chelsey Tubbs, Deputy Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools

Public Input

Public input will continue through this web page for the entire process. Meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee (once established) will be publicly noticed and broadcast via the MMSD Board of Education YouTube channel in the same way that all other open Board meetings are shared.

To submit feedback, please use this web form.

Required

Select a School

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Select a School

Southside Elementary School Naming Process

April 15, 2024 Update - Naming Process Resumed

Background

Meeting Notice

Southside Elementary School Naming Proposal Submission Form

Timeline

Board Policy 6700

Board Policy 6700

Board of Education Role

Board of Education Role and Ad Hoc Committee

Ad Hoc Committee Members

Citizens' Ad Hoc Committee Membership List

Public Input

To submit feedback, please use this web form.

Resources