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The newest school in Boca Raton, a still unnamed elementary school, will soon have a name.
The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday will vote on a name out of three final options in a special meeting. The school, currently named “O-5C,” is expected to open in the fall, ahead of next school year.
The school has generated some heated debated from parents as the school district redraws elementary school boundaries for the city. The new school and boundaries are expected to help reduce overcrowding in other Boca schools.
The school board will consider the following names for O5-C at a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon after a series of workshop meetings:
- Blue Lake Elementary School
- Lakeview Elementary School
- Lakeside Elementary School
A committee was formed to discuss and recommend a choice to the full school board. It comprised Principal Seth J. Moldovan, a representative from the Boca Historical Society, several community members and two students likely to attend the school.
The committee unanimously chose “Blue Lake” as their first choice and say it refers to the geographical and historical aspects of the new campus being built.
“Lakeview” and “Lakeside” reflect the environmental surroundings of the school, which will sit at 1798 Spanish River Blvd., near Don Estridge High Tech Middle. It will be able to accommodate about 1,000 students, and school district officials hope it will help with overcrowding at Calusa Elementary School.
The district’s advisory boundary committee has been discussing and hosting public comments on redrawing of boundaries. Some parents criticized an initial proposal for new boundaries, citing a variety of concerns. At the committee’s last meeting, they brought two new proposals and will continue discussing and seeking input from the community on the possible new school boundaries.
The school district says policies dictate the criteria used to draw school boundaries, such as travel time from people’s homes to the nearby schools, according to Claudia Shea, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County School District.
Ultimately, the committee members will vote to either recommend the proposal to the schools superintendent or seek a new one, according to Jason Link, manager of school enrollment and demographics for the school district.
