Kaneland students to pick school names

Kaneland students will help pick the names of the school district's two middle schools.

"We are going to make it an academic exercise as well as an electoral exercise," Superintendent Charles McCormick told the school board on Monday night.

Similar to when the district had new elementary schools, students will be able to vote on several names approved by the school board. Students come up with names for consideration as well, which can include local individuals, famous national or international figures and geographic features.

All the schools retain "Kaneland" in their name.

"We really want the students involved in researching the names and making presentations," McCormick said.

The district does have a list of names as a starting point from naming elementary schools, but in beginning conversations with students it was noted that there weren't enough women's names on the list, McCormick said.

A new middle school on Harter Road in Sugar Grove is scheduled to open in fall of 2009. Both schools will need a new name at that point.

The school district will also be responsible for naming a new road on the west side of the middle school, McCormick said.

McCormick said he hoped names could be in place for students to vote on them on Election Day in November.