When thinking of possible names for a new elementary school in the Washougal School District, the School Facilities Naming Recommendation Committee turned to the public.
The committee, led by Washougal School District Assistant Superintendent Patricia Boles, let the community suggest names throughout December and most of January, and announced three finalists at the school board’s meeting Tuesday.
The three finalists are: Columbia Gorge Elementary, Nch’i Wana Elementary and Gibbons Creek Elementary.
The board received 140 total nominations, although with some overlap, the public suggested 84 different school names, Boles said in a release from the district.
“The Columbia Gorge Elementary name supports the understanding that Washougal is a gateway to the Columbia Gorge,” Boles said in the same release. “Nch’i Wana Elementary uses the Native American words for ‘great river,’ honoring the first people and culture in the Washougal area.”
Gibbons Elementary was one of the most frequent suggestions, as the school will connect to Gibbons Creek. It would also recognize the Joe Gibbons family, who were the second permanent settlers to Washougal, according to the release.
The committee will discuss the finalists and select one based on the criteria set for the school’s name. The committee was looking to name the school after a person prominent in the field of education, arts and science, politics or military achievement, a past president or Washington state senator or representative or a geographic characteristic of the area around the school.
The committee will announce a decision at the board’s April 12 meeting.
