Want to help name New Bedford's next elementary school? Your chance has been extended.

NEW BEDFORD — Those with ideas about what the city's new South End elementary school should be named now have until June 3 to submit, school officials have decided.

The school — to be built at the former Goodyear plant site at 651 Orchard St. — would replace the existing James B. Congdon and John B. DeValles elementary schools in the city's South End. It's expected to be completed sometime in 2026, project architects have said.

In April, New Bedford school officials announced the process of naming the building would involve taking suggestions from the public, with plans to discuss suggestions at the May 6 Finance & Operations Sub-Committee meeting. At the May 13 School Committee meeting, officials decided to extend the suggestion period through June 3, the date of the next Finance & Operations Sub-Committee meeting.

After that, the full School Committee will vote to name the school at their July meeting. Meetings of the School Committee are typically set for the second Monday of each month.

Get some background: New Bedford Public Schools wants your ideas on what to name a new elementary school.

School Committee and sub-committee member Bruce Oliveira, who spoke on behalf of the Finance & Operations Sub-Committee last week, reported that somewhere between 25-35 name suggestions had been received and reviewed as of May 13. By the time the School Committee makes their final decision in July, suggestions will be pared down to no more than seven, matching the School Committee membership, Oliveira said.

"Whatever the name ends up being, there will need to be five members of this committee to agree to that name for it to be chosen," Oliveira said. "Each member of this School Committee, when it comes time to vote, should they have a name they wish to put forward they have every right to do that."

How to submit a name suggestion

Members of the public may submit their suggestions for naming the new South End elementary school by sending them via email to: nbps_financeops@newbedfordschools.org. As stated back in April, submissions should include the name being suggested and the reasoning behind it.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford School Committee to name new school this summer