A proposal to name the high school gymnasium court in honor of longtime basketball coach Ray Stokes remains on hold while the school board seeks clearer direction from borough officials.

The request — which was on the school board Aug. 17 meeting agenda — originated in a Feb. 5 letter addressed to Schools Superintendent Joshua Garrett and High School Principal Greg Clark.

Signed by nine supporters, the proposal highlights Stokes’ 30-year tenure leading the Wolves boys basketball program from 1987 through 2017. According to the letter, Stokes led teams to seven Southeast regional championships, a state runner-up finish and the 1995 Class 3A state championship.

At the Aug. 17 school board meeting, signers Jeff Jabusch and Keith Appleman spoke in favor of the gym dedication.

“Under his leadership, his teams were known for their fierce aggressiveness and always being well prepared, a reflection of his basketball knowledge, his spirit and his fiery competitiveness on the floor,” Appleman said, quoting the letter at the meeting.

“We feel the naming of the court in his honor leaves a legacy to both he and his players who were part of those many teams, over the years.”

School Board President John DeRuyter explained that after Garrett and school leadership initially reviewed the letter, they referred the matter to City Hall.

“We decided that it would be best for the borough to make a decision like that, because the borough owns the school buildings,” DeRuyter said.

According to DeRuyter, Mayor Patty Gilbert — who is also among the nine signers of the letter — discussed the proposal with Borough Manager Mason Villarma, after which the request was sent back to the school board for consideration.

DeRuyter expressed hesitation during the Aug. 17 meeting, noting that dedicating a portion of a school facility could establish a difficult precedent for future requests to name or rename other public school facilities.

Board Member Dan Powers voiced concerns regarding the back-and-forth process between administrative bodies.

“One thing that makes me have reservations about this is the fact that the matter has been sent back and forth between the school and the borough already,” Powers said. “Is this something that we should talk with Mason (Villarma) and Patty (Gilbert) about?”

The school board voted unanimously to table the proposal until board representatives can meet jointly with Gilbert and Villarma to determine how to proceed.