School board launches NEST committee, timeline to name combined Lincoln Irving–Willard campus

School District 40’s Board of Education voted Sept. 22 to launch a public process to name the new combined Lincoln Irving and Willard campus, approving a resolution of intent to establish a stakeholder committee and a timetable that aims for a board decision Dec. 8.

District presenters said the process will be driven by a district-appointed Naming the Elementary School Together (NEST) committee, two public surveys and focus groups for parents, staff and students. “Whatever this product comes out of this, it’s going to stand the test of time,” said Dr. Savage, a district administrator presenting the plan. “So we gotta make sure the strategy is solid.”

The board-backed plan calls for three NEST committee meetings (September–November), an open-ended stakeholder nomination survey in October and a second, multiple-choice narrowing survey in November that would close Nov. 21. The district said it will seek nominations from families, staff and community partners, consolidate duplicates and remove ineligible suggestions before presenting finalists to the committee. The presenters said the committee should aim to produce roughly 10–15 names for the second survey and then create a shortlist for the board.

Board members and presenters outlined the committee’s tentative makeup: co-chairs identified as Dr. Savage and Dr. Cripple; a board representative (Jeff Maness was named); a possible student board member (Varun) and representation from both Lincoln Irving and Willard including two teachers per school, support staff, one to two parents per school, and additional community members. The presenters emphasized translation and outreach: Lincoln Irving communications already go out in five languages—English, Spanish, Swahili, Dari and Pashto—and the district plans similar multilingual notices and use of district translation resources.

The suggested naming parameters shared with the board said that recommended names should: reflect educational values, local history, geography, culture or nature; be easy to pronounce and spell; be politically neutral and inclusive; age well rather than be trendy; not reference living individuals; avoid political, religious or controversial references; and not duplicate or closely resemble other regional school names. The presenters said the district will provide a chart of existing mascots and school names to committee members so nominees avoid duplication.

The presenters framed the process as community-centered. “This process is going to be as important as the product,” said Dr. Savage, urging careful outreach during parent–teacher conferences the last two weeks of October and at in-person parent nights and lunchtime student focus groups at each school. District officials said an interactive display of project designs and a digital walkthrough would be available at each school during conferences to inform families before they nominate or vote.

The board approved the resolution with a roll call vote in which all voting members present recorded aye votes. The district said the schedule includes a buffer to extend work into January or February if additional community input is needed and noted plans for a press release and public announcement if the board finalizes a name in December.

The board did not take additional formal actions on selection criteria or final committee appointments at the Sept. 22 meeting; those steps will follow the NEST committee meetings and public surveys.