OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Statement of Introduction
“School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2022”
Today I am introducing the School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of
2022. This bill would clarify that the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) may partner
with organizations to adopt or sponsor certain school facilities such as auditoriums, athletic fields,
libraries, or other facilities internal to a school and such facilities may be granted a name in honor
of a person. Currently the Council is the sole authority to provide names for most public spaces,
including DCPS buildings. The question of the authority to name a facility that is within or part
of a DCPS school is ambiguous. A number of facilities such as an athletic field or an auditorium
have been named in an ad hoc basis without Council approval.
This legislation would permit DCPS to name an interior space of a building, such as an
auditorium. It would also establish a uniform system for naming any field or interior space similar
to the sponsorship and naming conventions for Department of Parks and Recreation facilities. For
example, several DPR fields have been sponsored and named for Washington Nationals Major
League Baseball players.
This legislation is aimed at encouraging financial or other support from private and
philanthropic organizations for DCPS schools and will allow DCPS to affix the name of the
sponsor to the facility. The Committee of the Whole, which has oversight of both DCPS and
public space namings has received requests for naming school facilities such as athletics fields for
individuals such as former school athletic coaches. These proposals have previously been made
to the Committee of the Whole by athletic boosters.
It is the hope that this legislation will create a predictable system for the namings of
facilities (other than DCPS buildings), without the need for Council intervention. In exchange,
schools would benefit from financial donations or gifts of equipment or infrastructure that enhance
the learning environment.
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2 Chairman Phil Mendelson
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7 A BILL
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12 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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17 To amend the District of Columbia Public Schools Agency Establishment Act of 2007 to permit
18 the sponsorship and adoption of certain school facilities and to amend the Street and
19 Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982 to allow for the naming of an
20 adopted or sponsored District of Columbia Public Schools facility in honor of an
21 individual.
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23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
24 act may be cited as the “School Facilities Sponsorship and Naming Amendment Act of 2023”.
25 Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Public Schools Agency Establishment Act of 2007,
26 effective October 22, 2015 (D.C. Law 21-36; D.C. Official Code § 38-171 et seq.), is amended
27 by adding a new section 105b to read as follows”
28 “Sec 105b. School facility adoptions and sponsorship.
29 “(a) The Chancellor may enter into an agreement with individuals, associations,
30 corporations, partnerships, neighborhood and civic groups, nonprofit organizations, or parent
31 teacher organizations to adopt or sponsor District of Columbia Public Schools athletic field,
32 auditorium, gymnasium, library, lab, theater, or other indoor or outdoor space under the control a
33 District of Columbia Public School. The form of such adoption or sponsorship shall be made by
34 a donation to the school of funds, services, equipment, or any other asset with intrinsic value.
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35 The Chancellor may form partnerships with any of the above stated groups to accomplish a
36 stated goal or mission of the District of Columbia Public Schools.
37 “(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Chancellor may name an interior space of a
38 school building, such as an auditorium, after an individual who is or was associated with the
39 school.”
40 Sec. 3. The Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982, effective
41 March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official Code § 9-201.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:
42 (a) Section 405 (D.C. Official Code § 9-204.05) is amended by striking thee phrase
43 “Except as provided in section 410, no public space” and inserting “Except as provided in
44 sections 410 and 411, no public space” in its place.
45 (b) A new section 411 is added to read as follows:
46 “Sec. 411. Naming of sponsored public school facilities.
47 “(a) Notwithstanding section 401, the Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public
48 Schools may name in honor of a person a District of Columbia Public Schools athletic field,
49 auditorium, gymnasium, library, lab, theater, or other indoor or outdoor space under the control a
50 District of Columbia Public School that is adopted or sponsored pursuant to Section 105b of the
51 District of Columbia Public Schools Agency Establishment Act of 2007, effective October 22,
52 2015 (D.C. Law 21-36; D.C. Official Code § 38-174.02); provided, that:
53 “(1) The naming is detailed in an agreement between the Mayor and the entity
54 adopting or sponsoring the facility, and that such agreement contains a provision for the duration
55 of the naming;
56 “(2) The agreement requires the financial adoption or sponsorship of the facility;
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58 “(3) The name is that of a and individual who may be living or deceased less than
59 2 years and who has a connection to the sponsorship, adoption, or facility; or
60 “(4) The naming is pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 105b.
61 “(b) The District of Columbia Public Schools may display the logo of an entity
62 sponsoring or adopting a field on signage at the field; provided, that the display of the logo be
63 less prominent than the name of the person for whom the facility is named, and that the display
64 be consistent with the terms of the agreement required by subsection (a)(1) of this section.
65 Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.
66 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
67 impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
68 approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
69 Sec. 5. Effective date.
70 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
71 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 60-day period of congressional review as
72 provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
73 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of
74 Columbia Register.
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