First day of school at Reagan Elementary
Washington, D.C. – On Monday, November 27th, Ronald Reagan Elementary in the New Berlin school district of Wisconsin opened its doors. The Ronald Reagan Legacy Project, which aims to honor the legacy of our nation’s 40th president by naming significant public landmarks after President Reagan, joins teachers and students in praising the new, technologically advanced school that honors our nation’s 40th president.
Due to the efforts of local businessman Stephen Ziegler and the support of the school board, the school's entrance, along with the cafeteria and some public areas, will be officially known as the “Ronald Reagan Elementary School InPro Commons Area.” Mr. Ziegler began working for a school named after Reagan in 2004 when he offered $60,000 to three Waukesha County school districts. In what appears to mark New Berlin as the first Wisconsin district to actively solicit naming rights sponsors for non-stadium areas of schools, New Berlin accepted the sponsorship of Mr. Ziegler’s InPro Corporation.
“Thanks to the work of Stephen Ziegler and the school board, the young people of New Berlin will have an opportunity to learn and understand the importance of Reagan’s legacy,” said Grover Norquist, chairman of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project. “Not only does the naming of Ronald Reagan Elementary school after one of our country’s greatest statesman raise public awareness about the importance of Reagan to America’s history, but New Berlin’s innovative solution to school construction funding helps to ease the burden for taxpayers.”
There are currently 93 dedications to Reagan in 26 states and 9 countries throughout the world. This is the second dedication to Reagan in Wisconsin. Although Gov. Jim Doyle (D) vetoed a bill last year that would have named a portion of Highway 14 after President Reagan, on June 3rd 2005, Milwaukee Public Schools officially dedicated the former Town of Lake College Preparatory High School, Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School after a unanimous 7-0 vote by the school board to honor our nation’s former president.
“I applaud Stephen Ziegler’s leadership and New Berlin’s decision to honor Reagan without the added burden of tax increases for the community,” continued Norquist. “I encourage other schools and businesses in Wisconsin and around the country to follow suit and memorialize our departed president.”
The RRLP is committed to preserving the legacy of one of America’s greatest presidents throughout the nation and abroad. Grover Norquist, chairman of the RLLP, is available for interviews regarding Ronald Reagan’s legacy and the group’s projects. Please contact John Kartch at (202)-785-0266 or jkartch@atr.org.
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