Name, mascot, and colors announced for new elementary school in Bluffton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 8, 2024

BEAUFORT – The Beaufort County Board of Education (BOE) this week unanimously voted in support of the name, mascot, and color recommendations made by the School Naming Committee for a new PreK-5 elementary school in Bluffton. Construction of the new school will be funded by the 2023 referendum.

The school will be named May River Elementary School, with a manatee as its mascot. The school colors will be blue, black, and silver/gray.

The ad-hoc School Naming Committee was led by BOE Chair, Dr. Christina Gwozdz and consisted of parents, SIC members, and a PTO chair. Bluffton elementary school principals Brenda Blue and Christine Brown also participated in the process alongside district staff members from the Operations Department. (The Board of Education Chair and BCSD employees served as non-voting ex-officio members of the committee.) The School Naming Committee took into consideration survey results from parents and students prior to presenting their recommendation to the Board of Education.

The district’s policy for naming a facility states that the community, culture, geography, and history of the area should be considered.  The name may not memorialize individuals or endorse a cause or organization.

 

 

May River Elementary School is currently being designed by Quakenbush Architects out of Columbia; Thompson Turner Construction Company is the contractor. The new school will be located on district owned property near May River High School and is projected to open in 2026 with a capacity of 800 students.