November 11, 2014 SCHOOL NAMING NEWS: Town Council feels that the new school to be built in the Inspiration Subdivision warrants the named after St Paul residents John and Paula Scanlan. They passed the resolution on the next page on November 10, 2014. It will be presented to the WISD Board, which is responsible for the naming. Individual support for this is needed so we request that you support this by contacting your school board representatives for this naming.
RESOLUTION NO. 14-11-10 A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF ST. PAUL, COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION ON NAMING THE NEWLY PLANNED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN THE INSPIRATION DEVELOPMENT, TO JOHN AND PAULA SCANLAN ELEMENTARY. WHEREAS, John and Paula Scanlan spent their lives dedicating their time, talents, and treasures to the St Paul and Wylie communities and Wylie lsd; WHEREAS, John Scanlan, a "Founding Father" of St. Paul served on the first council for the Town in 1972. His service to the town spanned over 40 years. He was serving as Town Councilman at the time of his death. WHEREAS, Paula Scanlan, a current resident of St Paul, served Wylie lsd for 31 years; Paula was the first librarian in Wylie lsd, helping open Akin and Birmingham elementary schools, and was the first librarian at Hartman Elementary. WHEREAS, John's family roots in that area date back to 1850's as farmers of a large area of land covering parts of what is now Lake Lavon on the east into modern day St. Paul on the west. John and Paula Scanlan lived and raised their family on the area known as Scanlan Hill; which is still the common reference to the general area where the new elementary will reside. WHEREAS, John Scanlan's family was pivotal on the Birmingham Land Trust Committee, supported Wylie lsd, and John Scanlan was part of three generations of proud Wylie High School graduates. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. The St. Paul Town Council request that Wylie lsd strongly consider naming the newly planned elementary school, proposed to be in the Inspiration Development, after the Scanlan's, a couple, historically significant, strong of character, with family roots in the area dating back to the early 1850s: JOHN & PAULA SCANLAN ELEMENTARY 2. The Town of St. Paul offers to the Wylie Superintendent and Board of Trustees Exhibit "A" attached herein, to further articulate our desire for this proposed name. This document was authored by Paula Scanlan, Brenda Kellow, Bernice Simmons, family, and neighbors who all support the idea of the name proposal. ADOPTED by the St. Paul Town Council on the 10th day of November, 2014.
TOWN OF ST. PAUL ATTEST: By~ ~~~-{_ Opie Walter, Mayor - I Robert A. London, Town Secretary
- EXHIBIT A: Proposal to Name the New Elementary School in the St. Paul Area JOHN AND PAULA SCANLAN ELEMENTARY We request that consideration be given to naming the new elementary school planned to be built in the St. Paul area, within the new Inspiration community: JOHN and PAULA SCANLAN ELEMENTARY The area around where the future elementary school is to be built is commonly known as Scanlan hill because John Scanlan's family has owned land in the area since 1853. There are six generations of Scanlans buried in the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery that is yards away from the site of the new elementary. In addition to the significance of the location, John and Paula Scanlan have been active and influential in the Wylie and St. Paul Communities to the level which their names would bring honor and recognition to the new school. John Clifford Scanlan was born in Dallas in 1941 at St. Paul hospital. From the time of his birth until he went to college he lived in the Wylie/St. Paul area. John went to Arlington for college where he met Paula Gene Searcy. They moved back to St. Paul, TX in 1971. John died on October 20, 2014. Paula still lives in St. Paul, a mile from the site of the new elementary on the original homestead site. Throughout John's childhood in St Paul, and the 43 years he lived in St Paul during his adult life, John Scanlan served his community in many ways, carrying on the example provided him by his father, Clifford Scanlan. Clifford and John's Uncle Ed, graduated from Wylie High School, as did John and his three sons. Clifford Scanlan was one of the representatives on the Birmingham Land Trust Committee and helped oversee the growth and development of Wylie lsd. In 1972, continuing the service to the community that his dad started, John Scanlan served on the first council as a councilman for the newly incorporated Town of St. Paul. He was elected again to the town council in 2007 and remained on the council until his death. John and his wife, Paula Gene Searcy Scanlan, worked together to serve St. Paul and Wylie. Paula was an election judge the year St. Paul was incorporated. Paula Gene Searcy Scanlan, worked for the Wylie school district as a Librarian from 1978-2008. Paula Scanlan was the first Librarian in Wylie lsd. She was the first Librarian at Hartman elementary which is the first elementary in Wylie. Later she opened Birmingham and Akin elementary schools as their first Librarian. She was at Birmingham for three years, Akin for six years, and then she returned to Hartman helping them set up their new library. She remained at Hartman until she retired in 2008. Paula was well known by the students for her story telling ability and her poetry. Teachers in Wylie who had Paula as their Librarian still ask her to visit to read to their kids. One of her poems is painted on the library wall at Hartman. She continued volunteering within the schools after her retirement Before starting to work for Wylie lsd as a Librarian, Paula volunteered and substitute
taught for WI SO. Paula also led a local Cub Scout group as Den Mother until John Scanlan took over when the boys moved into Boy Scouts. John and Paula have served the Wylie and St. Paul communities throughout their lives. While Paula was the Librarian John assisted with the carnivals, other fun events, and even provided manual labor when setting up the Libraries where Paula worked. Paula remembers that his height came in very handy for many of the teachers. She also said that one year for the school carnival John won first prize for his Green Giant costume and his son won 3rd prize for his clown costume that same year. In addition, John coached a previously losing little league football team to winning the Championship the year he coached them. John and Paula have served Wylie in the tough times as well. When the tornado hit in 1992 John assisted in warning, clean up, checking on people in their homes, and evacuating a hospital. He was a HAM Radio operator; served as a storm spotter and volunteer test administrator. Paula developed and coordinated "Stuffed with Love"; a stuffed animal/toy drive for Wylie Children's Clinic. Paula said they always voted for whatever would best serve the students of Wylie lsd. The Scanlans were long time members of the Wylie United Methodist Church. John served as Lay Leader (the highest non-clergy position) of the church and led two weekly men's bible studies. He also served on the United Methodist Men's Wheelchair Ramp Building Team, building wheelchair ramps in the local area for those in need. There are many in Wylie and especially St. Paul who would be proud to have the new school named after John and Paula Scanlan. Most in the area would quickly recognize and appreciate the long history of the Scanlan family in the area. The Schools location is very apropos for the Scanlan name due to the family roots in the geographic area. However, location aside the Scanlans were an example to the area of COMMUNITY, CIVIC DUTY, EDUCATION, and CHARITY Naming this new elementary school JOHN and PAULA SCANLAN ELEMENTARY would honor the long support and service of the Scanlan family to the school and our towns as well as bring pride, honor, and recognition for Wylie ISO. Who better to name a school after that is in the St. Paul area than someone who helped found and has been an active and respected member of St. Paul for all these years. Thank you for your consideration. References: HOW THE TOWN GOT ITS NAME- http://www.stpaultexas.us/history/ourtownhistory.pdf History of St Anthony's Wylie- http://saint-anthony.com/history History of Original St. Paul - by Joy Gough http://www.stpaultexas.us/history/st%20paul%20narrative%20j%20gough.pdf