Board hears recommendation to rename 227 Lamb's Lane program 'The Learning Collective' after staff, students and families weigh in

The Albemarle County School Board on May 20 heard a staff recommendation to name the facility at 227 Lamb's Lane “The Learning Collective” following a multi‑step community process involving faculty, students and families.

Karen Waters, director of community education and the project manager for the school‑naming process, briefed the board on outreach and polling. The building has housed PREP (Piedmont Regional Educational Program) for two decades; PREP will relocate and keep the Ivy Creek name. The facility now serves the Center for Learning and Growth (short‑term intervention, grades 6–12) and the Intensive Support Center (pre‑K through post‑high).

Waters said staff began with name suggestions from faculty and then engaged students over several rounds of surveys. Early rounds produced options such as Albemarle Academy and Unity Center Academy; subsequent rounds added options including Creekside School and The Learning Collective. In a final poll among 33 respondents who chose to participate in the last round, 58% selected The Learning Collective while 41% selected Creekside School. Waters said students especially liked the “TLC” acronym and that their reaction influenced the recommendation.

Waters described the process as intentionally small and focused on the community served by the facility and said the naming recommendation reflects student and staff priorities. The board did not take a vote at the May 20 meeting; Waters asked whether board members had questions about the process and findings.