Leander ISD open to namesake suggestions for Middle School No. 8

According to the district website, new buildings should be named for one of the following:

Historical or geographical sites or communities

Deceased, significant individuals

Local, state or national historical events or places

Significant state or national figures

A person who has made a significant contribution to education in the district

If the nominated name is a person, that individual should be widely respected, a person of character and have a history of service to the district, state or nation, according to the district website.

Last February, LISD accepted namesake nominations for Elementary School No. 24 before the board decided to postpone its opening. Cedar Park City Councilman Matt Powell led a campaign to name the school after fallen city police officer Leonard Reed, a school resource officer at Vista Ridge High School until 2008. He died in an on-duty motorcycle accident Aug. 18, 2010.

But Powell said he will not seek to name Middle School No. 8 after the fallen officer since the campus is not within the city limits of Cedar Park.

"My focus on having the elementary school named for him is because he was a very highly regarded school resource officer," Powell said. "I thought it most appropriate to seek to have a school in Cedar Park named for Officer Reed. My enthusiasm for honoring Officer Reed has not been lessened at all with the time that has passed."

Sopher said LISD kept the namesake suggestions that were submitted for Elementary School No. 24.

"We will keep them until we are ready to name the school," she said.

LISD will accept namesake nominations for Middle School No. 8 through the end of January, Sopher said.