An ad hoc committee to the Cape Girardeau Board of Education is seeking public input on a name for the school district's newest elementary school.

In July, board members decided to organize a committee to name the school district's newest elementary school, which is under construction near Sprigg and Bertling. District policy requires the board to form a committee to solicit suggestions and make a recommendation regarding the naming of any building.

Board members said they wanted the committee to be representative of the community and to includes representatives from Washington and May Greene schools, which are scheduled to close at the end of the 1998-99 school year. The new elementary school is on schedule to open next fall.

An 11-member committee was recently seated to name the school. Committee members are assistant superintendent David Giles; the Rev. William Bird, school board member; Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld, scheduled principal of the new elementary school and current principal of May Greene Elementary; Barbara Blanchard; Betty Campbell; Marge Engleman; Francis Richardson Miner; Terry Ford; Erika Scheibe; Melvin Gateley; and Charles C. Clippard.

Board policy sets four guidelines for the naming of school facilities:

1. Schools may be named for a person, place or thing.

2. The name should have "special meaning to students and citizens and enhance the educational, moral and spiritual values of the district or community, or of the particular building or facility."

3. In the choosing of a person's name, that person is to be considered as making "an outstanding contribution to the school involved or to the school district," or must be "... heroes of national, state or local fame."

4. Any person whose name is recommended must be "deceased for at least three years."

Suggestions should be submitted to the school naming committee before Oct. 29 at the district board office, 61 N. Clark. For more information, call (573) 335-8820.