Fayette County’s newest elementary school will harken back to the past for its name.

During Monday night’s school board meeting, the board agreed to name the school Rivers Elementary School and let it sit on the table for 30 days for consideration.

Superintendent of Education John DeCotis explained the Rivers family sold the site for the new school that will open at the intersection of Tillman Road and Sandy Creek Road.

“They sold us the property at a discount with the understanding that we would name the school after the family farm. They were to choose either Adams or Rivers. They chose the name Rivers since this was the name of the most recent owners,” DeCotis explained.

The school will open in the 2009-2010 school year.

In other action, the board:

• Passed a resolution opposing the GREAT Plan, that would shift away from a property tax system to a sales tax basis to fund local schools. Board member Janet Smola said this plan would eliminate local funding decisions for board members and Fayette’s schools would suffer. It would also apply sales tax to professional services.

“If you go to get your nails done or go to an attorney, you would have to pay the tax,” she said.

The board unanimously passed the resolution.

• Heard a construction update on ongoing projects. Construction supervisor Klaus Darnell told the board that work is progressing nicely on Inman Elementary School. He said the structural steel is 99 percent completed in the C and D sectors. The septic field lines and tanks have been installed and the gas company is installing the gas line. He also said damp-proofing has been applied on the exterior part of the concrete masonry.

Darnell also said construction documents are 98 percent completed for the new elementary school on Tillman Road. The project is scheduled to go out for bids Feb. 7, 2008.

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