Dear USD 489 Board Members and Administration:

With respect to your right to make these decisions on behalf of all the citizens of the District which you represent, please consider the following regarding naming the buildings recently purchased by us.

The naming of a public building or improvement should serve at least two purposes: clearly identify the purpose and use of the building and encourage respect for the mission of your governmental subdivision.

In the case of the 2501 E. 13th building complex, the purpose and use of the facility is to house the early childhood education programs of the District. The opportunity to engender respect for the mission of giving our students an early and effective start in the lengthy education process is obvious — find someone who exemplifies that and put their name on it. Tell the public where it is.

Please refer to my earlier letters regarding this, and please recall that you asked the public for suggestions. To name the building complex the East 13th Street Kolb Early Childhood Education Center or some variation of that accomplishes all of the core purposes of naming the buildings.

Teachers, patrons, students, taxpayers, government leaders and the thousands of other people whose lives Emma Kolb affected in all-positive ways will appreciate knowing that this School District remembers its heroes and honors them.

This weekend is Hays High School Homecoming. Take a moment to ask the Classes of 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and others if they remember Emma Kolb. Ask your faculty if they have heard of her. She gave all of her adult life to the children of western Kansas and particularly Hays and I know of dozens of your current teachers who went into the profession at least partly because of her.

Adding 13th Street to the name will let the general public know where this place is.

When they enter the building they will see that you had the foresight and heart to name it after a teacher who devoted herself to early
childhood education. We will know that you listened to the people you asked to give you public input, which will help this District with its own credibility when it asks us to support new infrastructure and programs.

Respectfully,

John T. Bird
Lincoln School Class of 1960
Hays High School Class of 1966
Hays