Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Schools

Names pour in for new schools

Six of the seven schools opening in Pasco next year are still nameless. But it won't be that way for long.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published October 6, 2005

What's in a name? A heckuvalot, if the School Board's quest to name new schools is any indication.

Folks wrote, e-mailed, faxed and called school officials with 144 suggested monikers for three west side schools expected to open next year. And there still are another three schools to go. "We got a huge response!" Pasco County schools spokeswoman Lori Yusko said Wednesday.

With seven schools opening next year - six still without names - School Board members are charged with picking an unprecedented number of names at once. So, they solicited suggestions from the public last month. They plan to vote on three west side school names Oct. 18 and the east side schools Nov. 1.

Truth be told, educators are just getting tired of calling them by their sterile, confusing preconstruction names: "Elementary School G," "Middle School DD," and "Elementary School K" are the west Pasco schools.

The suggestions that poured in for them mostly fall into a few categories.

There are objects found in nature: Bayou Elementary. Mockingbird Elementary. Tall Grass Middle. Starfish Middle.

Founding fathers and historical figures: George Washington Elementary. Benjamin Franklin Elementary. Susan B. Anthony.

Local notables: Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Elementary, named for a Pasco man who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions serving in Iraq in 2004. Dr. John Long Middle, for Pasco's recently retired superintendent. David H. "Happ" Clark Jr. Elementary for a former Pasco principal, coach and county commissioner. And, very popularly, Dr. Robert L. Hartzell, a former School Board member, optometrist and former Port Richey City Council member.

Finally, of course, geographical locations: Mitchell Ranch Elementary or Trinity Oaks Elementary for the Trinity-area school being constructed on Mitchell Boulevard, near the Trinity Oaks subdivision. Holiday Middle or Sweetbriar Middle for the school being erected on Sweetbriar Drive in, well, you guessed it: Holiday.

Yusko said that although they hope the bulk of the suggestions are in - they gave a Sept. 1 deadline for logistical reasons - she's not closing the door to more. "We can certainly add to that list," she said.

For information, call (727) 772-2717, (813) 794-2717 or (352) 524-2717.

[Last modified October 6, 2005, 01:14:18]