BENTONVILLE — A name, mascot and colors for the second high school will be decided by March, according to Mary Ley, School District spokeswoman.
The community is invited to submit name suggestions to the district, but students also will play a role in picking the name and mascot.
At A Glance
Bentonville School Mascots
Bentonville High: Tigers
Fulbright Junior High: Timber Wolves
Lincoln Junior High: Leopards
Washington Junior High: Wildcats
Ardis Ann Middle: Blazers
Bright Field Middle: Aviators
Old High Middle: Knights
Ruth Barker Middle: Bruins
Source: Staff Report
That process began Thursday morning when the high school brought 19 ninth-graders together and informed them they’d been chosen to lead the student effort.
Rhianna Lightle, 14, was afraid she was in trouble when she was pulled out of class for Thursday’s meeting. After the meeting she said she was honored to be chosen to participate in the process.
“I feel it’s a really good way to leave a mark before I graduate,” Rhianna said.
One idea she already has is to name the school after Kathy Murry, the longtime Bentonville school administrator who died unexpectedly Jan. 4.
Anyone may email a name suggestion to Ley at [email protected]. Ley will accept suggestions until Feb. 20.
The students will meet again Feb. 25 to consider all of the suggestions. They will choose the top three, which will be presented to the School Board. The board will make the final decision, but will give strong consideration to the students’ choices, Ley said.
The second high school will be built on Gamble Road in Centerton. Construction is expected to begin this summer. The school is scheduled to open in August 2016, when current Bentonville High freshmen will start their senior years.
Ley advised the students to ask their friends and family members for name suggestions. She also gave them things to think about as they go through the process.
The name should have wide appeal, she said. Though the school will be in Centerton, which is part of the Bentonville School District, it will be attended by students who live in other cities.
And because the school frequently will be referred to by its initials — much like Bentonville High School is often called BHS — students also should take that into account, Ley said.
Ley stressed to students the magnitude of their decision.
“Some of you may go to the new school, and some of you may not,” Ley told the students. "You may have younger brothers or sisters who go to the new school.”
As for the mascot choice, Ley told the students to come up with a list of between five and 20 possibilities. Those mascot ideas will be voted upon by the district’s eighth- and ninth-graders.
Students should focus on mascots that inspire people to excel in both academics and athletics, Ley said.
“We have to be careful that it’s not insulting to anybody,” Ley told the students. “So we want to make sure it’s flattering and would not hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Bentonville High’s mascot, the tiger, is a strong symbol associated closely with the city, so students should strive for a mascot with an equally strong image for the second high school, Ley said.
They don’t necessarily have to stick to the cat theme, either.
“We want something original,” said Allison England, a Bentonville High assistant principal who sat in on Thursday’s meeting.
Bill Edwards, Centerton mayor, said he would like to see the school called Centerton High School.
“It makes sense, but that’s (the district’s) decision,” Edwards said. “Personally I like Centerton High School. It’s right here in the heart of Centerton.”
He said he’d heard from another resident who suggested the school be named after Sam Walton.
There are reasons for deciding on a name and mascot for the school now even though it doesn’t open until 2016. One is to generate more excitement in the community about it.
“I think it’s time to quit calling it a second high school and give it its own identity,” Ley said.
There’s a more practical reason, too. The mascot and colors can be incorporated into the school’s design and construction, she said.
The design phase is under way. A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 10 at Old High Middle School to update residents on the project.
The second high school will open for grades nine through 12. The district is still exploring two rollout options. One would give seniors the choice of finishing their high school years at Bentonville High School; the other would extend that choice to juniors as well.