Chesterfield School Board to vote on name for new middle school
Nov 12, 2024
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A new middle school is under construction in the Matoaca District of Chesterfield County, and its new name is being voted on tonight.
According to Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS), this is the district's 13th middle school and it is being constructed on Westerleigh Parkway to hold 1,800 students.
The name for the new school has yet to be chosen, but one recommendation will be voted on at the board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Back in February, potential names were gathered from the public for two weeks and the board saw 578 responses submitted.
Of the top three name suggestions, "Otterdale" was included in each, as it was revealed by public input that the site was once Otterdale Farm -- which used slave labor to grow tobacco as well as other crops up until the end of the Civil War.
Chesterfield County School Board asks for feedback on middle school name
The board returned to the original 578 responses in an attempt to ensure a connection between the students and the school.
Several people suggested Deep Creek Middle School, because Deep Creek runs near the site of the new school, and that is the main recommendation for the new name.
The school is scheduled to open in August of 2025.
The meeting will be held at the Chesterfield County Public Meeting Room located at 10001 Iron Bridge Road starting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will also be broadcasted via livestream here. To view the meeting on TV, go to Comcast Channel 98 and Verizon Channel 28.
CCPS also announced that a groundbreaking ceremony will take place for the new school located at 17151 Westerleigh Parkway on Monday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.