Board of Education considers change to facility naming policy

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Education is considering making changes to their naming policies after Hoggard High School renamed it’s football stadium without asking the superintendent’s office or Board of Education.

Dr. Derrick Hickey says that he found out that the Hoggard Athletic Department and administration changed the name of Hoggard Stadium to Scott Braswell Stadium when he saw it on WWAY.

Hickey says the stadium is a multi-million-dollar facility that is publically owned by the school system, and the school district could have potentially sold the naming rights and used the money for education.

“Not taking anything away from Scott and the great work he’s done with the Vikings, particularly this season, but the first time the board actually heard of this was when it was reported in the media,” said Dr. Derrick Hickey. “Hoggard Stadium or any other major or any other major multi-million dollar facility the board and the community needs to have some input.”

The new policy under consideration would still allow for facilities to be named after teachers and coaches, but there would be a six-month waiting period for public feedback.

It must be pointed out that any facilities that have already gone through name changes, such as Scott Braswell Stadium, will keep their titles.