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Naming committee recommends three options for new Westside elementary: Bart Starr, Bright Horizons or Creekside
Summary
A community subcommittee presented three names for the new Westside elementary school — Bart Starr Elementary, Bright Horizons Elementary and Creekside Elementary — after six meetings and research on retention, controversy and community relevance. The board will vote on a final name at a future meeting.
A naming subcommittee convened by the Green Bay Area Public School District presented three recommended names for the new Westside elementary school on April 14: Bart Starr Elementary; Bright Horizons Elementary (or “Horizon” variants); and Creekside Elementary (with alternates such as Creek View).
The committee said it followed Board Policy 940 and a deliberate research process that included community members, parents, teachers and students. The group met six times, sought input from neighborhoods feeding the new school (Keller, Kennedy and MacArthur) and invited students to contribute. Committee members said student voices were particularly influential during selection.
Rationale and considerations
- Bart Starr: The committee highlighted Bart Starr’s local ties, leadership and community work, including co-founding Rawhide Youth Services. The group noted potential issues: (1) the “BS” initials could invite teasing, (2) the name might require permission from the Starr estate, and (3) some online commentary surfaced about a hazing-related back injury in his history; committee members clarified Starr was the one injured while being hazed, not the initiator.
- Bright Horizons (or Horizon/Beginnings): The committee said the name evokes future opportunity and aligns with the district’s portrait-of-a-graduate goals. The committee also flagged potential confusion with the national child-care company Bright Horizons and noted the name might sound less appropriate for older students in later grades.
- Creekside (or Creek View): The committee recommended Creekside because Beaver Dam Creek runs along the new school site; the committee recommended the shorter “Creekside” to avoid confusion with a nearby Beaver Dam Park and other local uses. Research showed the creek name dates back decades.
Process and next steps
Committee members included parents, teachers, student representatives and a City Council member. The naming process used a decision matrix to weigh factors such as local relevance, longevity and the potential for controversy; the committee reported more than 20 candidate names were considered.
The board will vote on the final name at a future meeting; the subcommittee’s report invited board members to ask questions before a decision. Board members at the work session expressed preferences during discussion but did not take a formal vote.
Quotes from committee participants and trustees were offered during the work session and recorded in the meeting transcript.
