Principal asks board to consider renaming Lehi Elementary to Cottage Grove after broad community input

Natalie Delahunt, principal of Lehi Elementary, asked the San Mateo‑Foster City School District board on Aug. 28 to consider renaming the school Cottage Grove after a multi‑year community process that included teacher conversations, parent input, surveys and kindergarten paper‑tally votes.

Delahunt said the school has undergone a significant physical and programmatic transformation and that many community members feel the name LEAD (previously styled LEED) no longer reflects the neighborhood identity. She described using digital forms plus in‑person paper surveys to include kindergarteners and other groups; a Google Form showed approximately 51.8% preferring Cottage Grove, while paper tallies from the youngest students reinforced the choice for a new mascot and identity.

Why it matters: School renaming can affect community identity, historical references and district costs (signage, materials and branding). Trustees asked how the name change would proceed under board policy, what the participation rate was for surveys, and for an estimate of the costs of making the change districtwide (signs, materials, uniforms). Superintendent Diego Ochoa said the presentation is a first step and staff would bring a written proposal and accompanying policy materials to a future meeting (September or October) for more time to gather input and cost estimates.

Delahunt emphasized the inclusiveness of the process and the value of reflecting the school’s neighborhood — Cottage Grove — in its name. Several trustees praised the principal's outreach and asked for the district policy on naming and a clear cost estimate before a final decision.

Sources: Presentation by Principal Natalie Delahunt to the board on Aug. 28; district staff comments about next steps and relevant board policy.