The Citizens Naming Committee (CNC), charged with making recommendations for the name of the new elementary school, is meeting weekly through early February. See meeting schedule below.

The committee, appointed by the Board of Education, is charged with whittling down the 87 suggested names for the new school — currently under construction on the far West side (801 Redan Dr.) The CNC must recommend a minimum of four names which meet the naming criteria established by Board policy and provide reasons. At least two of the recommended names must be of a prominent national or local figure.

The recommendations will go to the Board of Education on February 18. Per the policy, the Board will hold a public hearing on a subsequent date, and must wait at least 14 days after the hearing before voting to select a name.

The 13 citizens on the committee are: Nikki Baumblatt, LaVonne LaFave Bennett, Tom Brien, Salvadore Carranza, Cindy Crane, Enrique Gandara, Aiesha Golden, Mary Gulbrandsen, Karen Helle, Peng Her, Kris Koval, David Mollenhoff and Angie Thomas. The Board also appointed Mollenhoff as chair.

The committee meetings are open to the public. Minutes of the meetings and related documents are on the MMSD Web site — click here.

Of the 87 suggested names, 63 are persons, 10 are places, and 14 are ideas or concepts.

The Board policy requires that — to be eligible — a person must be "prominent" at either a local or national level and deceased, a place name must be "locally significant," and an idea or concept must be "broadly respected." "I expect the committee to develop additional criteria," said Mollenhoff.

Citizens had a 30-day period that ended December 3 during which they could make comments on the proposed names. Including these comments and the documents submitted with the name nominations, the CNC is reviewing more than 500 pages of documentation.

The committee will also review past and current MMSD school names and research on the proposed names.

In June, the Board voted to rename the elementary school after originally selecting Vang Pao, who was indicted by federal authorities earlier that month.

The school will open to students on the first scheduled day of classes in September.

Citizens Naming Committee Meeting Schedule

• Tuesday, January 8 — 5:00 p.m. — Wright Middle School LMC
• Tuesday, January 15 — 5:00 p.m. — Wright Middle School LMC
• Tuesday, January 22 — 5:00 p.m. — Wright Middle School LMC
• Tuesday, January 29 — 5:00 p.m. — Wright Middle School LMC
• Tuesday, February 5 — 5:00 p.m. — Wright Middle School LMC

The Citizens Naming Committee, charged with making recommendations to the Board of Education for the new school, has been meeting weekly at the Wright Middle School LMC to reduce the 87 suggested names down to at least four for the Board's consideration.

Related MMSD Links

• School News Weekly: New School Naming Committee