By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- A Massena Central ad hoc facilities committee is drawing up a plan to rename the high school athletic wing after longtime local educator Martha Slack.

Throughout her long career with the district, she held positions including coaching, teaching, director of physical education, athletic director and principal, according to Pat Henrie, a now-retired physical education teacher and soccer coach who discussed the idea with the school board on Wednesday.

“I felt strongly and so did our committee that she be recognized in some way for her service,” Henrie said.

He said the committee has heard several ideas, and they are leaning toward asking the board to rename the gymnasium wing.

“It’s still kind of in the introductory phase, but we would like to put some letters over the gymnasium hallway, something to the affect of ‘Martha Slack Physical Education Complex or Wing’,” Henrie said. He said the lettering would be over the doorway that leads into that area of school, visible from outside, with a plaque inside.

Henrie said he hopes they can get it done by Hall of Fame Weekend, Sept. 16, but that might not happen.

“If we don’t make it at that time, we can still honor her at some point,” he said.

There will be no cost to the school. It will be paid for through fundraising.

The board voted unanimously to allow the committee to fundraise and draw up a preliminary plan. They will have to grant final approval at a future meeting before it can be installed.