Community input sought on name for Annandale’s new elementary school

Fairfax County Public Schools invites local residents to a meeting at Falls Church High School Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., to discuss a name for the new elementary school under construction on the Lacey site in Annandale.

“The purpose of this meeting is to determine what proposed names are most popular within the community,” states en email message from FCPS. The final decision will be made by the school board, after receiving input from the community meeting and a follow-up recommendation from the superintendent.

Anyone who wants to propose a name for the new school is invited to attend the meeting and make a formal recommendation. If you can’t attend, you can submit a name via email to [email protected] no later than Jan. 16.

After all the recommendations have been presented at the meeting, community members who live within the new school’s boundary will have a chance to vote. Each household will be allowed one vote for their first, second, and third choices for a school name. If you want to vote, you’ll need to bring proof of residency. The school board approved the boundary last July.

FCPS elementary schools are usually given geographical or historical names. It should be noted that the Lacey school administration building used to be the site of Masonville Elementary School, and several alumni from that school, along with the Broyhill Crest Community Association, have expressed an interest in restoring that name. After all, the school would be the polling place for the Masonville precinct.

The new K-5 school will open next September. The new principal, Brian Butler, starts work Jan. 3, and a PTA has already been organized.

School board policies on selecting school names are available online. For more information, call the Cluster III office, 571/423-1130.