Board approves name for new choice high school amid debate over student input

The Bend‑LaPine School Board voted on March 10 to name its new choice high school Dutes River High School after a months‑long naming process that produced three finalists.

Staff told the board the naming committee began with roughly 74 suggestions and narrowed them to three finalists after multiple meetings with students, staff and families. Administrators said eight students served on the core naming committee and broader community surveys were used between rounds to gather feedback.

Several trustees expressed reservations about the final three options and urged more student involvement or broader outreach. Director Olsson suggested sending the finalists back to the committee with a stronger student vote; other trustees recalled that student input had been sought repeatedly and noted time pressures tied to opening the school. "I think all of us would really like something that the students are excited about," a board member said during debate.

After discussion, a motion to approve one of the finalist names carried; the board announced the name as Dutes River High School. Board members who supported the motion said they deferred to the students' preferences and wanted to finalize the branding so the program could move forward. Trustees who favored additional outreach urged administrators to keep engaging students and families as the new school develops its programming.

Administrators emphasized that the school's programming and curriculum will shape its identity over time and that the naming process had been constrained by timeline considerations. They also said a renewed outreach effort could solicit additional community energy around branding and programmatic identity as the school opens.

The vote settled the official name; subsequent steps will focus on implementation details, branding and student outreach for the coming school year.