Title: Naming of Elementary School "02-U"

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve the naming of the new elementary school from the list of recommendations submitted in order of preference as follows:  Elbridge Elementary; Saddlebrook Trails Elementary; Palomino Palms Elementary.

Description:

In accordance with School Board Policy 7.03, three names are being submitted for the naming of elementary school "02-U".  A committee of administrators, staff, parents, students and community members met to review names for the school.  Committee members represented the geographical areas of the community.

• Elbridge Gale Elementary – Elbridge Gale arrived in this area in 1885.  He served as School Superintendent of Dade County, which at the time encompassed all of the area between Biscayne Bay and the St. Lucie River.  His daughter, Hattie, was the first school teacher in Dade County at the Little Red School house (which is now located in Phipps Beach Park, Palm Beach).  He was a retired Professor of Horticulture and Agriculture.  He planted the first mango groves in our area and experimented with the production of hybrid mangos, eventually producing the popular Haden mango.  His 160 acre homestead became known as Mangonia.  The present day municipality of Mangonia Park derives its name from this mango grove.

• Saddlebrook Trails Elementary – The word “Saddlebrook” represents the theme of the equestrian community and the body of water near the site of the new school.  We wanted to keep “Trails” in our name because a percentage of our student population is coming from their current school Equestrian Trails Elementary.

• Palomino Palms Elementary – In keeping with the same equestrian theme we picked a name of a horse.  Also, the word Palms represents the many beautiful palm trees found in the Wellington community.

The selection committee was comprised of the following members:  Principal - Gail Pasterczyk; Staff Members - Kevin Krieger (Assistant Principal), Wendy Inman (School Secretary), Ranka Connor, Lynn Perez, Linda Petuch, Lynn Zarra, Louis Amburn, Jackie McVane, Mary Rodriguez, and Jennifer Goodsale; Student and Parent Representatives - Christopher Cook and Mrs. Cook, Matthew and Michael Curry and Mrs. Curry; Community Representative and Historical Society Representative - Harvey Oyer, III.

Financial Impact:

There is no financial impact to the School District.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Dr. Janis Andrews

Gail Pasterczyk