JACKSONVILLE — By Lauren LaFleur

assistanteditor@jacksonville progress.com

Jacksonville Independent School District trustees decided Monday to form a committee to research the possibility of renaming Joe Wright Elementary School and East Side Elementary School in honor of the schools' new campuses.

The idea was brought to the JISD Board of Trustees in January by Board Member Joe Casey.

He told the Board Monday that he sent a letter to members of the long range planning committee formed by JISD when they initially considered improvements to each of the district's campuses, and that the feedback from the committee members was fairly split.

“A few thought it would be a little controversial and that people might take offense,” Casey said. “Others were neutral.”

He said others from the committee were enthusiastic about the idea.

Casey proposed a committee of three Board members, two JISD administrative personnel and two community members be formed to begin seeking input as to what the new campuses should be named, or if their names should be changed at all.

He said he would also like the district's students to be involved in the process — ask them to research those people in Jacksonville's history who have made a significant contribution and suggest names based on their research.

“At least we're given the chance to look at it,” Casey said. “I'd like to have it at the groundbreaking (in June) … to help build consensus in the community.

“It's really a cool idea I think will gain momentum.”

Casey, Board Member Dale Jamerson and Board Member Todd Travis will serve on the committee, as will East Side Principal Chuck Lowery and Joe Wright Principal Brad Stewart.

“All I ask is you take that back to that long-range committee and get their input,” said Board President James Houser.

In other business, the board also approved:

• Certification of unopposed candidates (Houser and Jimmy Brown) for the May 14 election;

• An order to cancel the May 14 election;

• The 2011-2012 student dress code with three changes to begin fall 2011:

1.Pants, shorts and capris may have six or less pockets instead of five or less pockets,

2.Addition of a “no excessively tight clothing” statement, in order to eliminate the wearing of “jeggings” — extremely tight leggings that are jeans, and

3.Students in DIRECT must wear approved pants and approved white shirts unless privileges are earned on upper levels;

• Adoption of new textbooks;

• Nomination of Lauren LaFleur of the Jacksonville Daily Progress to the TASB 2011 Media Honor Roll;

• Nomination of the Jacksonville Daily Progress to the TASB 2011 Media Honor Roll;

• Nomination of Kelly Gooch of the Tyler Morning Telegraph to the TASB Media Honor Roll;

• Nomination of the Tyler Morning Telegraph to the TASB Media Honor Roll;

• A memorandum of understanding between JISD and Jacksonville Health Care regarding transportation in an emergency evacuation;

• Adoption of an amended advertising policy to specify what kinds of businesses can advertise on school-owned property; and

• The consent agenda, including minutes from the Feb. 8 and Feb 21 meetings, the investment report, business reports, and the ADA summary which showed JISD had 54-55 more students in February 2011 than this month last school year.

JISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell also reported to the Board that the district had been awarded the Gold Leadership Circle Award by the Texas State Comptroller for its Texas transparency Web site for the second year in a row.

He also said the district was awarded a $30,000 grant to purchase a solar panel to be installed somewhere on district property to serve as an education opportunity for students.

“It will also be one that will feed electricity into one of the buildings,” Wardell said.

The panel will cost a total of $37,500, of which the district will only have to pay $7,500 because of the grant.