Agenda Item
a. Renaming of New Middle & High School at the Sequoyah Site
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member, District 1
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the name change for the new middle and high school at the Sequoyah site to Sequoyah Middle School and Sequoyah High School.
Why: The stakeholders of New Sequoyah Middle & High School site requested that the name of the school be renamed Sequoyah Middle School and Sequoyah High School.
Details: The committee, led by Board member Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, was composed of the required Board members and District and School leaders. Then, parents, a student, and a community member were added to make a total of 13 members.
The committee met on the following dates:
March 24. 2025
April 28, 2025*
May 13, 2025
June 10, 2025
*Public input meeting was April 28, 2025
Contact: Mrs. Michelle Dillard. Chief of Schools, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.676.0542
Dr. Thomas Glanton, Area Superintendent for High School, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.676.0329
Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member 678.676,0722
Effective: Upon Board Approval, the High School Area Superintendent will work with appropriate divisions to change the school's name.
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
New Sequoyah Middle & High School Naming Committee Minutes
Date: March 24, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. (began at 5:32)
Minutes taken by Mr. Sedrick Anthony
I. Purpose of the committee-from Mr. Andrew Ziffer, District I Board Member
A. Naming of the “New Middle School at Sequoyah” which also includes the colors
and mascots
B. Naming of the “New High School at Sequoyah” which also includes the colors
and mascots
II. Introductions from all committee members and their connection to this project
III. Discussion of the DCSD District’s Policy of naming a new building
A. 4 meetings over a three/four-month period
B. Requirement of 11-15 committee members
C. Tentative Dates planned for the next meetings
1. April 28th –Community Input Meeting-Hybrid Meeting (Sequoyah Midde
School for the committee and virtual through the district’s communication
platform –Zoom).
2. May 13th –@ Sequoyah Middle School –5:30 p.m.
3. June 10th -@ Sequoyah Middle School – 5:30 p.m. -Recommendation will be
made at this meeting for board approval at the at the July meeting
IV. Distribution of the survey and suggestions for next steps
A. Discussion of the survey format was brought to the table for review and early
results were shared: (Northwoods Middle & High) & (Sequoyah Middle & High) B.
Discussion of the survey being translated was also discussed and suggestions were
offered in regard to a sample video to help stakeholders complete the survey
correctly- Sequoyah Middle Student –Jostin Perez. Dr. Glanton will facilitate this
process.
C. Suggestions for the survey included adding the local colors, mascots, and
names of each feeder school, middle, school within the district and near the site
V. Next steps and conclusion
A. Revisiting the dates and structures for the next meetings
B. Distribution of the surveys within the next two weeks
C. Video by Jostin Perez and connections with the communications department
about conducting the video.
D. Conclusion by Mr. Ziffer and invitation to attend the Town Hall Meeting @ 6:30
p.m. in Sequoyah’s Cafeteria
Members present:
1. Mr. Andrew Ziffer – Board Member & Chair
2. Ms. Whitney McGinnis -Board Member
3. Dr. Thomas Glanton -Area Superintendent for High Schools
4. Ms. Jacqueline Taylor – Area Superintendent for Middle Schools
5. Mr. Sedrick Anthony – Sequoyah Middle School Principal
6. Mr. Chris Henshaw- Doraville City Council Member
7. Mr. Jostin Perez – Sequoyah Middle School-Student
8. Ms. Beth Rhodes – Oakcliff Elementary School-Parent
9. Ms. Blanca Ramirez-Doraville United Elementary School -Parent
10. Ms. Patsy Rhodes- Cary Reynolds-Elementary School -Parent
11. Ms. Sandra Hernandez-Woodward Elementary School-Parent
12. Ms. Jennifer Baez-Woodward Elementary School-Parent
13. Ms. Mara Delgado-John Lewis Elementary School-Parent