School board to decide on name for new high school on Monday

Published 5:53 pm Monday, October 26, 2009

“Northeast Whitfield High School” was the most suggested name for the county high school being built off Crow Road, school officials said.

There were 38 different names suggested, and 130 suggestions in all since some participants offered more than one suggestion. The survey was anonymous.

“I can tell you the No. 1 name received something like 34 (votes), and then it went down from there,” said board chairman Jerry Nealey.

Board members are scheduled to vote on the name on Monday at noon in the central office at 1306 S. Thornton Ave.

“We were delighted with how much response we received,” said superintendent Katie Brochu.

The most suggested names after Northeast Whitfield High were Prater’s Mill High School (22), Beaverdale High (17), Varnell High School (14), Crow High School (3) and North Whitfield High (2).

“Because this is a nomination process, we have no way of knowing how many people are represented by each nomination form,” said school system spokesman Eric Beavers. “One nomination form may not necessarily represent a single person, but the collective opinion of several people. The board members will consider all of the proposed names (as) they make a decision together. We appreciate all of those who have shown (an) interest in our new high school and look forward to the meeting Monday.”

Nealey said during an interview after a Monday morning board work session that he expected a greater response. He said board members won’t necessarily choose the name that got the most votes as they did with Cedar Ridge Elementary School. The purpose of involving the public was to “get some names to consider,” he said.

Board member Thomas Barton said he favors naming the school “Prater’s High” because of its vicinity to Prater’s Mill.

“Some people seem to think it should be ‘Varnell’ because it’s in Varnell,” he added. “I believe it should be ‘Prater’s’ because that’s where it’s at.”

Barton said he is concerned that naming the school “Northeast” wouldn’t distinguish it enough from Northwest Whitfield High, especially for visiting athletic teams.

Students will help pick the mascot and school colors after the school opens in 2011, officials said. The roughly $43 million project is $16 million less than the original construction budget, officials said. The school is being paid for with education special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds.

In other business, board members agreed to ask an attorney to review a proposed new charter for the Whitfield Career Academy. Officials said the proposed charter renewal won’t significantly change the character of the school, but it will reflect the school’s new focus on project-based learning and technology skills.



Suggested names for new Whitfield high school

Barack Obama School

Baylor Ridge View High

Beaverdale High

Black Crow High

Cheetah High

Coahulla Creek

Creekside High

Crestwood High

Crow High School

East County High

Eastside High

Good Hope High

Grassy Mountain High

Heritage High

Hillview High

McGaughey Chapel High

McGaughey High

Millstone High

Mountain Ridge High

Mountain View High

North Beaverdale High

North Central High

North Georgia High School

North Horizon High

North Mill High

North Whitfield High

Northeast Whitfield High School

Northridge High

Peachtree High

Pinpoint High

Prater Central High

Prater’s Mill High School

Ridgeline High

School of Winners

United High

Varnell High School

Whitfield Central High

William Prater High



Source: Whitfield County Schools