Should Central Intermediate Get a New Name?

Move to New Site Presents Chance To Build a Legacy For Newest School

by Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — Four of Central’s public schools have a legacy of 40 to 100 years, and their names are well established in people’s minds — Central High School, Central Middle School, Tanglewood Elementary, and Bellingrath Hills Elementary.

But Central’s newest school, Central Intermediate School, was created almost overnight to accommodate the Central school system’s mushrooming student population.  Consisting of grades 4 and 5, it has been located since its inception in the former Starkey Academy facility on Joor Road.  Starkey closed in May of 2008, and the Central school board leased the facility and opened Central Intermediate there in August 2008.  The lease expires in June 2012.

The new Central School Complex is supposed to be complete in March 2012 and will be occupied no later than June 2012 in preparation for school opening in August.

The new Central School Complex will include two separate and distinct schools — Central Middle School and Central Intermediate School.  Each will have its own principal, administrative staff, and faculty.  Central Intermediate will be moved from Starkey to the new school complex.

Central Middle School will consist of grades 6, 7, and 8.

But Central Intermediate will consist of three grades — 3, 4, and 5.  The 3rd grade will move from Tanglewood to Central Intermediate.

An “intermediate” school is something of a mystery for old-timers like me.  We know what a junior high is (usually grades 7-9), and we know what a middle school is (usually grades 6-8).

But we’re not sure what an intermediate school is.  On the Internet, one finds intermediate schools as grades 5 and 6 or grades 6 and 7, but not many with grades 3 through 5.  Grouping grades 3 through 5 is probably fine, but is it an “intermediate” school or an elementary school?

Central Intermediate is a great school, and with its current principal and faculty will become even better.  But the name Central Intermediate is generic and has so far attracted little in the way of emotional attachment in the community.

Why not give it a better name?

We could name it after some great hero of American history or after someone who has made a great contribution to Central schools.  Or after some important landmark or historical event.  Or we could name it after some great virtue or character trait that we hoped to instill in our youth.

We could also consider changing it to an “elementary” school and get rid of the dreaded “intermediate” school label.

HHH

SmartScopes for Schools. Central Intermediate will be hosting an important event Saturday.  Julie Nall of the Central Community School System reports that 28 teachers, including many from Central Intermediate, Tanglewood, and St. Alphonsus, will participate in the final stage of a three-year program to upgrade skills in math and science.  The program has been a partnership, which included LSU, the State Department of Education, the Central school system, and teachers in the Baton Rouge area.

On Saturday, representatives of LSU will provide instruction on “SmartScopes,” which are microscopes with television cameras built in, which allow the magnified image to be projected on a screen in the classroom.  Each participating teacher will be given a SmartScope for use in her classroom.  Ms. Nall, who has facilitated the program, expressed appreciation to LSU, the State Department, and all involved.

HHH

City Council Reapportionment.

Central City Councilman Wayne Messina invites the public to attend and voice their opinions at two remaining public hearings on Council reapportionment.  The hearings will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 24 and on Wednesday, Aug. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Central Fire Station.

HHH

To our Middle School, Freshmen, and JV players who have been laboring in this heat: Fear not, because your day will come!