Who or what will it be? AISD School Board plans to rename annex at Shotwell Stadium

Abilene ISD's Shotwell Annex might have a new name by next school year.

AISD School Board members discussed the possibility of renaming the facility after late Abilene High coach John McCabe at a meeting this wee.

During the public comment period at Monday's meeting, former School Board member Derek Hood and Abilene High teacher Jenny Miller spoke in support of the action to name the athletic facility after McCabe, who died in 2014.

"You ask anybody who remembers coach McCabe, and a smile comes on their face," Hood said. "He was an exemplary person, teacher, mentor, coach."

Hood referenced prior materials given to the School Board regarding how comments about McCabe never spoke on his coaching record but rather on the impact he had on individuals at a personal level.

Written on a wall of Abilene High School, the statement, "It's a great day to be an eagle," serves a reminder as something McCabe would say as encouragement to students and teachers, Hood said.

"I never met a man that had so much to give but never wanted to be in the limelight. This is a no brainer," Miller said.

Dr. John Kuhn, AISD superintendent, presented the proposal to trustees during the final minutes of the meeting.

"The annex at Shotwell Stadium doesn't currently have an official name outside being called the Shotwell Annex," Kuhn said.

Newly-instated Trustee Blair Schroeder said he had McCabe as a teacher during his time at Abilene High School.

"To me it's only appropriate to name it in his honor," he said as he made a motion to move forward with renaming the annex after McCabe.

Before a second could be made, School Board member Bill Enriquez hopped in the conversation, referring back to when the district renamed its elementary schools.

"I think we have a process in place to name facilities, and I think we need to give opportunities to the rest of the community instead of just taking one name," Enriquez said. "Without giving opportunity to the general public to submit a name, I think it's doing our process an injustice."

Ultimately, trustees agreed with Enriquez. Trustees decided to postpone naming the Shotwell Annex after McCabe and have Kuhn move forward with following School Board policy for naming school facilities.

Kuhn said he will work with Jim Garfield, executive director for athletics, to put together a committee to establish a timeline and review recommendations from the public.

The committee will present three possible names for consideration. The School Board retains the final authority in naming the facility.

The process of renaming Shotwell Annex is in the beginning stages, and Kuhn hopes to have a name for trustees' consideration by the August regular School Board meeting.

More details for public feedback will be provided at a later date. Interested individuals are encouraged to keep their eyes open for developments on Abilene ISD Facebook and website.