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Ed Sanders seems to be a fine candidate to have one of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's two new high schools named after him.
As Central High School principal in 1957, he orchestrated the integration of student Gus Roberts, who became the first black to graduate from a previously all-white Charlotte school. Because of Sanders' planning and attentiveness, Central was able to avoid the vitriol that caused Dorothy Counts to drop out of Harding High across town less than a week into that same school year.
"He was a hero," says David McKinnon, a Central alum who says his principal's name belongs on a CMS school.
But Sanders faces a significant obstacle: He is still alive.
CMS policy allows schools to be named for people who made an "outstanding contribution" to the school system, but they must be deceased. That requirement, not uncommon among school systems nationwide, illustrates the delicate political considerations that burden a seemingly celebratory task.
CMS is considering names for high schools in Cornelius and Mint Hill, both of which will open in 2010. Sanders was among 30 suggestions received for the Mint Hill school and among 17 for the Cornelius school. The principals - Terri Cockerham of the Cornelius school and Mark Nixon at Mint Hill - each appointed a school name advising committee, which selected three finalists. Those names have not been made public.
The renaming policy was drawn up in 1968, then adjusted in 2000 to clarify which individuals could have schools named after them. School board members were concerned about causing embarrassment to those nominated but not selected, but mostly the board was worried that the honor might become a political football, said current chair Molly Griffin, who was a school board member then.
"That's what concerned me - the danger of politicizing what should be a straightforward policy," Griffin said.
Only one CMS school is named after a living person - James Martin Middle School in the University area, named after the former N.C. governor - but that name was chosen before the naming policy was clarified in 2000, Griffin said.
Sanders, 87, resides in the Alzheimer's unit of Southminster Retirement Community. "He's a very happy guy," said son Doug.
McKinnon says the effort to get a school named after Sanders is backed by a Central High alumni group. He hopes to bypass the rule on living people by noting another part of the policy that allows schools to be named for historical figures.
"I have 20, 30, 40 articles on him," Sanders said. "All of it is positive."
Said Griffin: "I think it would be wonderful to have a school named after him. But no, I don't think he is a historical figure."
The three finalists for each school will be presented to the superintendent for his review. The school board will make its selection Nov. 10.
