Parents often have a difficult time choosing a name for their children, but sometimes that's nothing to the problem of selecting a name for their children's school.
After considering dozens of names and after several meetings with the public, the Alpine School Board on Tuesday night selected a name, mascot and school colors for the new junior high school under construction in Lindon. The board, however, delayed choosing a name for the new junior high school in Highland because many parents disagreed with the names recommended by a name committee and complained about not being involved in the name-choosing process.The name of the new Lindon school, as recommended by a committee comprised of students and parents from Lindon and North Orem, will be Oak Canyon Junior High School. The school's mascot will be the Eagles, and the school colors will be dark green, gold and burgundy.
"We tried very hard to eliminate emotion in selecting this name," said K.C. Shaw, committee chairman.
Because so many names were submitted for consideration, however, not all residents are happy with the new name. Many who attended a public meeting last week wanted the school named Lindon Hills. Shaw said the committee felt including Lindon in the name could make students from Orem feel like outsiders. Also, labeling the students as being from one area could cause problems when they move on to attend three separate high schools.
"We expect a name should unify the student body and should eliminate any exclusion or segregation," Shaw said.Jim Starr, Oak Canyon principal, said the committee polled more than 750 students, several hundred parents and held a public meeting last week before selecting the new name.
"We went out of our way to make sure parents felt good about the process," Starr said.
The name-selection process for the new school in Highland, however, has not been as smooth. After many Highland and Alpine parents complained about not having enough say on the new name, Principal Sheldon Worthington agreed to hold another public meeting next week.
"I have not been sampled and none of my neighbors have been sampled," said Kathleen Schramm, a parent from Highland. "I think this is something that everyone ought to be involved in."
Even though a name will not be selected until the school board meets again next month, a committee of Highland and Alpine parents is leaning toward the names of Canyon Heights or Mountain Ridge. The committee is also recommending the school mascot be the Huskies and the school colors be navy blue, gray and burgundy. However, some parents don't want the Huskies as the school mascot.
"There are some who feel their daughters will be called dogs," Worthington said.
Two names submitted but not getting much consideration, Worthington said, are Point of the Mountain Junior High and Lone Peak Junior High. Both are names of units at the Utah State Prison.
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Public hearing
A hearing will be held to discuss a name for the new junior high school in Highland.
When: Tuesday, March 16, at 6 p.m.
Where: American Fork Junior High School cafeteria.