This article came from the Northwest Florida Daily News. Two new schools are being built to help handle the growth in Crestview and the names have now been chosen. Please read the article below. 

Names chosen for new Hub City schools

RACHEL KYLER

 

Monday August 27th, 2007

Okaloosa County School District is gearing up for the construction of two new Crestview schools, beginning with their names.

The county School Board unanimously approved the names Riverside Elementary School and Shoal River Middle School at its meeting Monday.

The schools will replace Richbourg Middle School and Southside Elementary School and accommodate overflow from nearby schools.

Faculty members, district administrators, student advisory councils and parent-teacher organizations from Southside and Richbourg took part in the process.

Riverside derived its name from a combination of Shoal River Middle School and Southside, said Southside Elementary School Principal Donna Holloway.

"I thought it was the best choice," she said.

Shoal River was chosen because of the school's proximity to the river, which borders Crestview on the east and south.

"It really is an integral part of Crestview," said School Board member Cathy Thigpen.

The Eagles was elected as Riverside's nickname, while the school colors are red, white and blue, a nod to the areas military heritage.

Shoal River shares the same colors as the new elementary school, but a nickname won't be revealed until the school's groundbreaking, tentatively set for October.

As the schools are busting at the seams, school administrators say they can't wait much longer for the new buildings.

"We're full. We've got no extra classrooms," said Richbourg principal Bob Jones.

But the schools are looking forward to the transition.

"We're saddened about leaving our location ... but at the same time we're eager to get into our new facility," Holloway said.

Daily News Staff Writer Rachel Kyler can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 1440.