Opinion
Much controversy has arisen in the town of Easton due to the recent Charlene Lorion Dalrymple Naming Project. This project revolves around a group that wants to name the Oliver Ames auditorium after Mrs. Charlene Dalrymple, the former head of the school’s music department, for her long-lasting contributions to not just the high school, but to the entire town and community as a whole.
The debate does not center around whether or not Dalrymple’s contributions were noteworthy enough for an entire auditorium to be named after her, but rather how much money the public school system will receive in order to make this happen. While the asking price for the auditorium naming rights is $250,000, the project offers only $50,000 for the naming rights.
Taking all into consideration, approving the naming project would only benefit the town of Easton. While the offer is much smaller than the price tag put on the naming rights, this should not matter – $50,000 is better than $0. Furthermore, it does not seem like any new offers are going to be coming in anytime soon, considering there hasn’t been one in nine years. While the school system is arguably losing out on an opportunity to gain a larger sum of money to flow through the schools, the immediate benefits would be substantially more beneficial than the alternative, which is receiving nothing for the auditorium if no counter offers are made.
Many have argued that the decision to follow through with the project would be unfair considering the full price of $150,000 for naming the Oliver Ames gymnasium was paid. However, this amount was raised in five years – if nothing else, an offer should be made with the project’s supporters to work out a payment plan. At the same time, however, asking prices have been lowered for other facilities within the school in the past, such as the weight room which asked for $100,000 but was approved for $80,000 worth of equipment instead, so the gymnasium should not necessarily be comparable to the auditorium.
Although the School Committee maintains a policy regarding the naming rights of their facilities in order to best benefit the town, this policy declares that a facility can be named based on contribution to the community as well. This indicates that, due to Mrs. D’s indisputable influence, the auditorium should be named after her for nothing, and that the $50,000 is a generous honorary.
Mrs. D’s impact on the community is priceless, and the naming of the auditorium should be seen in the same way. While there are arguments against it, it appears to be the best option for everyone involved. More school committee meetings will allow a decision to be made on this matter, and hopefully it is in favor of the woman who did so much for so many people.