School naming committee making final recommendations

Three new schools are scheduled to open in Maricopa next year. All three need names, which has been the responsibility of a district-sponsored school naming committee led by Pima Butte and Santa Rosa Assistant Principal Danielle Record.

Two elementary schools are under construction, one in The Villages at Honeycutt and Duncan Roads and the other at Glennwilde on Porter Road past Pacana Park. The third site at Hartman and Murphy Roads will be a middle school.

The 25 or more members of the committee represented school district personnel as well as both longtime and new residents.

President Cori Teller represented the Maricopa Wells Student Council while Kevin Ngai, Vince Davis and Anna Scheuchenzuber attended as members of the Maricopa High School Student Government.

Names for schools can be derived from significant geographic locations, historical events or events of community significance. Facilities can also be named after worthy individuals.

Some of the names put forth by members of the committee were: Butterfield, Perry Williams, Murphy, Adobe, Mourning Dove, Stage Coach, Wagon Wheel, Saddleback, Pecan Grove, Sunset, Adobe, Desert Wind and Marzona, among others. The committee identified historical or place name significance for each of the submitted names.

At the Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board meeting on Jan. 9 the committee’s final choices for naming the two new elementary schools and the new middle school will be presented. Committee members will also present the rationale for the selections.

The final decision in regard to naming schools rests with the members of the governing board.

Photo by Joyce Hollis