Tonight the Board will vote on a name for a new Middle School adjacent to South Riding. Its boundaries were set in the spring. The panel recommended naming the school after Mike Lunsford, the beloved and respected LCPS Director of Transportation who died suddenly this summer after more than 40 years of service.
We received some feedback a few weeks ago that the women and men who worked for Mike want to name the transportation and maintenance facility in Leesburg after Mike instead. I haven't heard discussion on the Board about this but I prefer to name the school for him. His name will be heard more often by more people for many more years on a school than a maintenance building. Naming the school after Mike also reinforces that his mission wasn't buses and fuel and tires: it was kids, their safety and their education.
The alternative choices are Eric Olsen Middle School and Justice Middle School. Eric Olsen was a lacrosse coach who lost his very young life a year ago, the Freedom High School stadium now bears his name. (Item 9.02)
Update at 7:58pm: The Board voted unanimously to follow the naming committee's recommendation and named the new school "J. Michael Lunsford Middle School." I cannot wait to attend the dedication. I will be there whether I'm still on the Board at that point or not.
My dad has his own school! We would love to see the school while its being built ad up and running!
ReplyDelete-Emily