Newton Citizen

COVINGTON - The Newton County Board of Education members made their choices for the names of the new elementary and middle schools under construction on Salem Road during their work session Tuesday night.

In early November, the Newton County School System allowed community members to send in their choices for school names.

"The school board feels the community should have a role in selecting those names," said NCSS Superintendent Steven Whatley in a press release in November.

In December, the board announced that it received about 25 community suggestions, including Mills Creek, Cowan-Mills and T.K. Adams for the elementary school, Timber Ridge for the middle school and Salem, Covington and Bailey Oaks for both schools.

"I was really disappointed in the choices we had," said board member Cathy Dobbs during Tuesday night's meeting. "Personally, I was disappointed in the lack of participation."

At Tuesday's work session, each board member was allowed to choose up to six names from the suggested list or ones they came up with themselves.

Board member C.C. Bates chose Mills Creek for both schools, while Vice Chairman Almond Turner chose Mills Creek for the middle school and Chairman Johnny Smith and board member Cathy Dobbs chose Mills Creek for the elementary school.

"I like Mills Creek because it's right there on Mills Drive," she said. "I like Timber Ridge or Tall Oaks for the middle school because there's a lot of tall oak trees on that property."

Board member Rickie Corley said he liked the idea of Salem Elementary and Salem Middle, but Dobbs said she fears it would get confused with Rockdale schools.

"We could name it Salem Campground for the campground that's right there," Dobbs said.

The board members will vote on the final names for both schools at Tuesday night's regular session meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the Newton County Board of Education building, located at 2109 Newton Drive in Covington.

Michelle Floyd can be reached at michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com.