By Sakeyla Spencer

Staff Reporter

            Tracy Unified School District’s Board of Trustees has decided to name the A-building at Tracy High, but is hasn’t yet come up with the right name.

            There are many buildings on campus that have been named. The C-building is named the Joe. E. Foster Music Center after a band director, the football stadium is named after former football coach Wayne Schneider, the theater is named after former drama teacher Emma Baumgardner, the gymnasium is named after  former assistant principal and teacher Bill Swenson; and the E-building is named after former math and science teachers Mary Hawley and Kenneth Westlake.

            Principal Jason Noll feels good about naming the building.

            “I think it’s a great idea that they want to give the A-building a name,” Noll said.

            Agreeing with him is math teacher Greg Smith.

            “I think it’s cool. I didn’t even know, about the whole renaming,” Smith said.

            The district is doing this to honor people who have done a lot in Tracy schools and the community.

            According to Noll, some names have been considered, including Dr. James Franco, former principal at Tracy High for six years and current district superintendent; Joseph S. West, founder and pioneer of the West Side Unified School District in 1912; George Kirchner, a former math teacher and department chair person; and Diana Traina, former English teacher and department chair.

            People on the name selection committee were students Renata Guzman, Allie Headily, David Lee and Alan Hawkins from the West Side Pioneer Society, and Noll.   

            At last meeting, the Board turned down the naming suggestions.

            According to the Tracy Press, Larry Gamino a longtime Tracy resident and local activist, and a few board members said they had a different opinion of West after Gamino said that West fought in the Confederate Navy during the Civil War.

            Board members were concerned about giving the building West’s name because of his support for the Confederacy, which supported the institution of slavery.

            The Board will continue to consider naming options for the building.