Voting on name finalists for new elementary school in Lehigh Acres ends Thursday

If you would like to provide your input on which name finalist you would like to see for the new school being built in Lehigh Acres, your time is running out. The public voting period ends on Thursday at 6 p.m.

The School District of Lee County released six finalists for the name of the new East Zone elementary school that is set to be built in Lehigh Acres.

The school, currently going by Elementary J, is set to begin construction this spring along Sunrise Boulevard in Lehigh Acres, right next to the new Lehigh Acres Middle School. The district says the school will open to students in August of 2023.

Below are the six names that have been chosen as finalists for the school:

• Amanecer Elementary School
• Roberto Clemente Elementary School
• Thomas Edison Elementary School
• Gerald Gould Elementary School
• Lee Ratner Elementary School
• Sunrise Elementary School

A second survey is available for the community to vote on which name they would like to see chosen for the school. You have until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, to vote. You can do so by clicking here.

The School District of Lee County provided some background on the names they chose as finalists.

Amanecer means sunrise in Spanish, and the school is on Sunrise Blvd. Roberto Clemente was a Major League Baseball player who trained with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Fort Myers. Thomas Edison was America’s most prolific inventor whose winter home was in Fort Myers. Gerald Gould was the first president of Lehigh Corp., which developed Lehigh Acres. Lee Ratner partnered with Lehigh Corp to develop his ranch into Lehigh Acres. Sunrise is the name of the street where the new school is located.

Once the second survey is complete, the same committee that reviewed the initial submissions will review the results and recommend a name to the School Board for approval on Feb.22.

A vote to officially name Elementary J is expected at the March 8 meeting.