OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Omaha Public Schools board voted unanimously Monday to name the future Omaha North High School stadium after Gene R. Haynes, a former principal and teacher who spent more than 50 years at the school.
Policy waiver required for approval
To move forward with the naming, the board was required to waive an existing policy that would normally restrict how it names buildings. Board members said situations requiring such a waiver are rare.
OPS Board Vice President Kimara Snipes said the decision carried significance beyond the stadium itself.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I’m a neighborhoods person, and so this is definitely about a whole lot more than naming a stadium,” Snipes said. “We are actually honoring someone whose leadership helped shape generations.”
Haynes responds to the honor
Haynes was present at the meeting and addressed the board following the vote…