Naming local schools no easy task

What's in a school name?

A lot, according to the School Naming Committee, the group charged with recommending whose names are placed on new elementary and middle schools in Clark County.

"It's a tough job," said Susan Brager, School Board member and chairwoman of the six-member School Naming Committee, which makes recommendations to the School Board.

High school names are based on location and other factors, but all other schools carry the name of a prominent citizen, someone the children can look up to.

Prominent business leaders, attorneys, legislators, educators and community activists were among the 175 applications sent in during the last round.

Names can be re-submitted for people who weren't selected, Brager said.

Because of the high interest, school officials want to see the process tightened up. With help from the policy committee, specific standards for selecting school names will be proposed.

Brager said she likes to see an emphasis on people who have devoted a lot of time to schools.

"There are probably people who deserve it, but nobody nominates them," Brager said. "There are people who go above and beyond who are just not big on publicity. I think it's up to us to investigate that. This is one of the highest honors someone can receive."

School Board member Lois Tarkanian, who previously served on the naming committee, agreed.

"I believe it's extremely important," she said. "This is one of the highest honors in the state. And you have to be so careful how it's done."

The latest list of new school names approved by the School Board:

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