RIVERSIDE

A Hall of Fame may emerge at Highland High School in 2025.

Jody Fink, athletics and activity director at Highland Schools, presented a plan to the School Board on Monday that would create a Hall of Fame honoring Highland athletes, coaches, contributors in not only athletics but also band and choir, FFA, debate/speech, fine arts and robotics.

The first proposed Hall of Fame Class of five inductees would be honored in 2025.

“We would like to get this out in January,” Fink said.

The Hall of Fame Committee would consist of seven members: activities director, a boys head coach, a girls head coach, two from performing arts and two community members. Nominations would be accepted January through July of each year with selections being made in the fall.

Five votes would be needed for selection.

In addition to individuals, entire teams would be eligible for induction.

Committee members are still finalizing details, but coaches must have been at Highland for 10 years for consideration and athletes may be considered five years after they have graduated. Committee members would ultimately choose the inductees, but criteria includes all-state, all-region, all-district and all-conference honors, as well as national honors and school or state records.

While the Board did not vote Monday, members agreed with moving ahead on the project.

Naming Policy

The Board also discussed the naming of events, activities or memorials, specifically as it relates to a deceased student.

A number of examples from other school districts outside Iowa prohibited memorial fundraising or establishing a permanent memorial in the immediate six months after a death to allow time for grieving. Another policy restricted temporary memorials to 10 days.

Ken Crawford, Superintendent of Schools, recommended that the Board move forward with developing an actual policy that addresses timeliness factors, naming policies and establishing a district designee.

“I think it’s a necessary thing,” said Board member Rachel Longbine.

Next Meeting

The board will hold its next formal meeting at 5 p.m. September 9.