ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In some urban areas across the state, a decline in school enrollment prompts school districts to devise reconfiguration plans. These plans may involve school closures, as well as the naming or renaming of institutions.

When it comes to naming or renaming a school, a community-driven process unfolds. This includes the collection of community signatures and the organization of public forums at the local school district. During these forums, community members propose names often tied to impactful historical figures. Subsequently, the superintendent presents these proposed names to the school board for a vote.

Lashara Evans, chief of staff at the Rochester City School District, highlights the significance of having local names for schools. 

"Having local names the students will know, the families will know, and it will represent something," said Evans. "And it's not just a name that's out of reach, you never had an understanding of who this person might have been or what they have done, so it's important to have some local ties if that's going to be the name."

According to Evans, local names create a connection for students, families and the community at large. She emphasizes that a school's name should not be merely out of reach or lacking an understanding of the person it represents. 

Evans underscores the role of selecting the right school name to foster a meaningful connection with its history. She advocates for renaming schools when historical names no longer align with the values cherished by the students, highlighting that a school's name embodies pride and identity for students, staff and families.