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Policy roadblock for Vivian School

Rich Egger/file photo
Dr. Vivian spoke to a full house at the Macomb High School auditorium in 2015.

The proposal to rename a Macomb school in honor of the Reverend C.T. Vivian has hit a snag.

The school district has a policy that states no more than one building or facility can be named after any one person. And the library at Macomb High School is already named in honor of the civil rights leader.

Board member Jim LaPrad is promoting the idea of renaming Edison School after Vivian. Students in grades 4-6 attend Edison.

LaPrad said at this week’s board meeting that the district has the ability to change its policies and should consider doing so in this case. During the meeting, he echoed this comment made during a recent interview with Tri States Public Radio.

“We have a beautiful celebratory installation in the C.T. Vivian Library at the high school. But that’s within the school system in Macomb. The naming of a school is a national statement. It’s about us -- Macomb as a community -- honoring him,” he said.

LaPrad also said the initial proposal several years ago was to name a building after Vivian, but instead the district named the library in his honor.

The issue will be taken up next month by the board’s policy committee, which could make a recommendation to the full school board.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.