Aspen Considers Naming Schools After Wealthy Donors As Budget Solution
ASPEN, Colo. (CBS4) - Aspen typically conjures images of the rich and famous, not of a school district with a budget crisis. But that's just what officials in Aspen say they are trying to deal with.
One possible solution in particular is stirring up controversy in the small mountain town and raising eyebrows around the state.
As with other communities across Colorado, school funding is shrinking in Aspen, so they are considering allowing wealthy donors to put their names on parts of schools, like a football field.
"We're in the same boat as every other community in Colorado, it's somewhere around 42nd in the country in public school funding, which is pathetic," said Raifie Bass, Aspen Education Foundation Board President.
The Aspen Education Foundation is always looking for ways to help fill in the gap in state funding. The proposal to allow wealthy donors to put their names on school buildings and programming, though, is a controversial one.
"Everyone on our board and our parents are sensitive to what people in the community are sensitive about, to not having big names all over the place or naming everything, naming every classroom or every program," said Bass.
Some school board members have already voiced concern with the naming proposal, and are worried just who will want their name on a school.
"Our kids are in the buildings everyday, we don't want people to feel alienated because somebody's name is on the building," said Bass.
The school board will make the final call on the proposal. There is no word when that will happen.
