The administration building at Indian Hills High School in Oakland will hence forth be known as the administration building, or The Building Formerly Known As The Paul Saxton Building.
The Board of Education passed a resolution on February 27th authorizing the removal of former Superintendent Paul Saxton’s name from the building – an honor bestowed in 2008.
But it’s unclear how students, parents, and residents should refer to the offices, and whether saying The Building Formerly Known As The Paul Saxton Building is appropriate, or if they should simply call it the administration building.
It was in 2008 that board members Ira Belsky and Wayne Peterson resisted the naming of the building in honor of Saxton. The argument was that no process was in place as to how the decision should be made, and that the passage of time would be appropriate prior to bestowing the honor on a man still working in the building.
At the same time in 2008, Belsky offered some sharp criticism of Saxton and the school board for exercising a lack of oversight and laxity. Now, four years later, Belsky just concluded a defamation lawsuit brought by Saxton, has risen to be president of the school board, and is apparently working on the processes needed to eventually find a new name for The Building Formerly Known As The Paul Saxton Building.
Belsky is not alone with contentious feelings towards Saxton, as a variety of lawsuits with Saxton have apparently cost the RIH school district upwards of $170,000 and evoked hard feelings among other school board members. The RIH school district, in addition to the suit against Belsky, has legal contentions with Saxton over vacation and unused sick days.
Saxton was earning over $250,000 prior to his retirement, and continues to assume interim positions with other school districts in New Jersey.
Links:
The Record: Board Votes to Remove Saxton’s Name From Building
The Record: Saxton Loses Defamation Suit Against Belsky
Letter to Editor: Belsky Responds to Court Victory
The Oakland Journal: 2008 Article (re)Belsky
NJ. Gov: Ethics Decision Belsky & Saxton
Maybe they can name the building in a special fundraiser. I know HUMC especially raises money for its new buildings and I’m guessing who ever pays the most gets the building named after them. So, maybe who ever can raise or donate the most money to get some repairs done throughout IHHS and RHS can have the building named after them.
I believe the honor of naming a building, ball field, or other public structure should not be done until that person has been dead for at least 10 years. This way the passage of time will reveal their contributions in 20/20 hindsight.
Alternately, go the commercial route and put up billboards on the walls facing the parking lot and rent out the space or just sell the naming rights like they did for Giants “Met Life” Stadium.