Sarnia's new consolidated high school will be called Great Lakes Secondary School.
The Lambton Kent District School Board decided in a 5-4 recorded vote, to support the recommendation made by the Ad Hoc Naming Committee for the consolidated St. Clair Secondary School and SCITS.
Paul Wiersma, who is the Principal of the new Great Lakes Secondary School, is very glad to have a name.
"I know the committee was working very hard throughout the summer soliciting public input on choosing a name," says Wiersma. "I think particularly for students going back to school on September 6 now they have a name of a school to attend and I think that is going to be really helpful in terms of forming an identity for our new school."
Wiersma says now that a name has been selected, they can move forward.
"There is going to be an identity committee, among several other committees, but the identity committee will start to take a look at things like colours, mascot, crest, perhaps even a school song," says Wiersma. "Those are the things we want to start to associate with the new school."
Some board members felt the name was rushed and requested more time to pursue other options.
Trustee Dave Douglas wouldn't even present the report from the naming committee to the board, because he didn't support the recommended name.
"I just have some real questions on the whole process and a trustees role in this process," says Douglas. "Apparently we are suppose to, I guess, rubber stamp whatever the naming committee comes up with. I believe that they tried hard to come up with a suitable name for the new school, but I just have too many doubts myself."
Lambton Kent District School Board Vice-Chair Scott McKinlay says they are still awaiting word on funding applications submitted for Great Lakes Secondary School.
"Until we get a final decision on the funding that we've applied for, these two applications, one for new (school), one for renovations, my understanding is that we're looking to have this school up and running for next September, a year from now," says McKinlay. "All indications are that's what will happen."
Great Lakes Secondary School was one of three names selected by the naming committee from 145 public submissions
Bluewater Collegiate, Sarnia Clearwater Collegiate and Great Lakes were all under consideration but the committee recommended the Board choose Great Lakes.
The committee stayed away from any reference to the former schools, north -south references and naming the school after a person.
- with files from Lee Michaels.
