The School Board of Manatee County on Oct. 31 began a naming discussion for the new elementary school being built on the Artisan Lakes parcel next to a county‑planned Veterans Memorial Park.

Kevin Chapman, district staff, briefed trustees on the site relationship: the county is planning a roughly 24‑acre Veterans Memorial Park and resource center on the adjoining parcel, while the district owns and is developing the school parcel immediately adjacent. Chapman said the county will control the park naming process but staff sought board direction on whether to align the school name with the memorial.

Board members broadly favored a name with an explicit veterans connection. One trustee said she is "the daughter of a veteran and the granddaughter of two veterans" and favored a name that would allow the school to participate directly in memorial observances; another suggested shorter forms such as "Veterans Elementary" to keep signage and usage simple. A cabinet member suggested alternatives that preserve the link while sounding school‑appropriate, such as "Valor Elementary."

Timing and coordination
Staff requested direction to accelerate the naming schedule: if the board provides direction in November, the district could place a naming item on a December agenda for a final vote. Staff said completing the name before January would allow the district to show a school name (and principal) when it launches school choice communications. Trustees agreed the board could target a December decision so the principal can begin outreach with a final school name in place.

Site coordination and access
District and county staff told trustees the two parcels share a common boundary and that staff are discussing access and potential swaps of limited land to improve school and park access. Staff noted school security and fencing requirements will remain in place; any shared activities or gate access for school events would need explicit coordination with the county and would comply with safety protocols.

Ending
No formal action or vote occurred at the workshop. Trustees asked staff to continue coordination with county officials and to present a naming recommendation that reflects the board's preference to recognize veterans, with a goal of finalizing the name at or before the December board meeting so it can be used in January choice communications.

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"I love the idea of Veterans Memorial Elementary School," one trustee said, adding she supported close coordination with the county park and public events such as Veterans Day activities.

Closing note
Staff reiterated the maps and naming discussion will be publicly visible when the district posts maps Monday and will seek community feedback throughout November; a December board meeting is expected to include final map adoption and — if the board directs — a school naming vote.