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Group aims to honor Laughlin
MEDINA, Feb 11, 2012 (The Journal-Register - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The Medina Mustangs could play their next football game on a field named for longtime coach John "Pinky" Loughlin if the Medina School Board approves a proposal made Tuesday by the Parents Athletic Club.
According to PAC member Nick Benedetti, the group plans, if the project is okayed by the district, to place signage indicating the football field as John "Pinky" Loughlin Field at Veterans Memorial Park on the stadium's scoreboard and press box.
"John had a positive influence on many of his former coaches, colleagues, athletes and students that have been touched by him," Benedetti said. "Naming the field after Coach Loughlin in our opinion is well deserved."
The signage is expected to cost $3,000, which would be covered by PAC, local veteran's groups and area businesses. The move has been approved by the boards of both the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The name of the sports complex would remain Veterans Memorial Park. Benedetti said Loughlin, who served in the U.S. Navy in World War II's pacific theater, was a member of the American Legion and spearheaded the rehabilitation of the park in the 1970s, wouldn't want the park renamed.
The board's discussion focused on how best to honor Loughlin, who coached the football team to 13 Niagara-Orleans League Championships and at times served as director of transportation, assistant principal and athletic director during his 25 years at Medina. Loughlin, who also served on the board of education and the Medina Village Board, passed away in 2011.
Board member William Keppler, who said Loughlin was the person who had pushed him to run for a spot on the school board, said Loughlin was a humble man who'd prefer a quieter honor. Board member Wendi Pencille argued that naming the field after Loughlin would keep his name alive for a new generation. Board member John McCarthy said that he'd like to see a biographical plaque added at the field.
School Board President Maureen Blackburn expressed support for the measure, which will be on the board's Feb. 28 agenda.
"This comes from the heart of the people who loved him," Blackburn said.
Grade alignments set for 2012-13
The board approved a plan Tuesday to adjust the grades at the three buildings that will be used by the district next year.
The changes, necessitated by the closure of Towne School at the end of the 2011-12 school year, add one grade level to each building.
Under the plan, Oak Orchard Elementary School will contain universal pre-kindergarten through third grade classes; Wise Middle School will contain fourth through seventh grade classes; and Medina High School will contain eighth through 12th grade classes.
Superintendent Jeff Evoy said the change had strong support among the Towne School Task Force, as it alleviates some of the concerns that would have occurred if the district went universal pre-kindergarten through fourth grade at Oak Orchard, fifth through eighth at Wise and ninth through 12th at the High School.
"It suits our students best," Evoy said.
High School Principal Mark Kruzynski said there is space in his building for the new students, but that the shift adds logistic problems that will need to be solved this summer.
"We'll be able to work them out," said Kruzynski, who predicted specialty classrooms for art and other electives will be used every period of the school day.
--The board set a new time and location of the 2012 budget and board vote. Voting moves from Oak Orchard to the District Office, with balloting scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. May 15.
The method of voting will also change, as the district will use a digital vote scanner to tabulate the results. Each ballot will filled out on paper and fed through a modern machine.
___ (c)2012 The Journal-Register (Medina, N.Y.) Visit The Journal-Register
(Medina, N.Y.) at www.journal-register.com Distributed by MCT Information
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