In a special meeting on Friday, the Normandy School District unanimously voted to name the district’s new elementary school “Obama Elementary School.” The school, which is under construction in Pine Lawn, is expected to be completed in late fall. Students and staff will move into the building in January.
“We selected ‘Obama’ not only because he is the first African-American U.S. President, but because he represents fairness, provides inspiration and is a prime example of being anything and all that you can be,” said Cozy W. Marks, III, the board’s president.
Students from Pine Lawn and Garfield Elementary Schools, the two schools that will close upon completion of the new elementary, were polled as to what name they would suggest for the new school. They overwhelmingly suggested “Barack Obama.”
In April 2008, voters approved a $23 million, no-tax increase bond issue that led the way to building Obama Elementary School. The 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will house up to 400 students in grades kindergarten through sixth.