Loveland District Seeking Name for New School

By Pamela Johnson, Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

The site of Loveland’s new future school, seen Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, on Boyd Lake Avenue is east Loveland.
(Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Residents are invited to suggest possible names for the new school that will be built in east Loveland next year.

The Thompson School District is accepting suggestions for the name of the school, which has been referred to as High Plains due to its location, through Jan. 16. A committee of staff and parents will winnow the suggestions down to three to take to the school board.

Dan Maas, the district’s chief executive officers, said he has heard from several residents and community groups wanting to submit suggestions.

What should the new school be named?

What: The Thompson School District is seeking suggestions on what to name the new school that will be built in east Loveland.

When: Possible names are due Jan. 16

How: Names and the rationale for the nomination may be submitted through: a link at thompsonschools.org; by email,info@thompsonschools.org; at the District Administrative Offices, 800 S. Taft Ave., Loveland.

Tom Carrigan and Jerry Westbrook are spearheading a Loveland Rotary Club effort to suggest the kindergarten through eighth-grade school be named after life-time Loveland resident Robert R. Lebsack. They began circulating petitions today.

Lebsack, who was a long-time Rotarian and farmer in Loveland, served on the Thompson school board for 16 years, starting in 1969. Before that, he served several years on the Rural District 38 school board. He went on to serve on the Colorado Association of School Boards and, up until his death Oct. 21, was active in KidsPak.

“Schools and kids were important to him,” said Jackie Anderson, one of two of Lebsack’s daughters who work in Loveland schools. “He would be honored. We are very touched and honored that they are doing this regardless of what happens.”

Two of his three daughters, Anderson and Janna Dunkle, said their family was surprised, honored and humbled when the Loveland Rotary Club contacted them to let them know.

“Just the thought of them considering his name is honoring,” said Dunkle, a teacher.

Lebsack was born in Loveland in 1922 and raised his family here. He graduated from Loveland High School in 1940 – a year after playing on the state champion football team. In fact, he attended all but three LHS football games from his graduation to his death.

“For 93 years, this was his home,” said Dunkle. “He would be extremely humbled.”

Another suggestion floated at a recent school board meeting was to name the school after another long-time Loveland resident, Sharon Olson. The retired teacher and principal and former school board president died from cancer on Feb. 7.

She has been lauded by colleagues and students for her contributions to education.

Other possible names also may be submitted to the Thompson School District for the 60,000-square-foot school that will be built at 4255 Buffalo Mountain Drive. The 13-acre lot is located off Boyd Lake Avenue just north of U.S. 34.

Design for the $17.2 million school is underway with construction bids to be solicited early next year.

The district must have a name to go on those construction documents, so members of a construction advisory committee will sort through the suggestions and take three possibilities to the school board on Feb. 4.

Construction of the school is expected to last through 2015 and the first half of 2016 with the classrooms to open that August for the 2016-17 year.

Pamela Johnson: 970-669-5050, ext. 526, johnsonp@reporter-herald.com, @RHPamelaJ