Ryan Brennecke / Bulletin file photoThe Bend-La Pine School Board on Tuesday night picked the name Pacific Crest Middle School for the new middle school being built adjacent to William E. Miller Elementary and Summit High School. It's shown here under construction in November.

BEND — The Bend-La Pine Schools Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to name the district’s new middle school Pacific Crest Middle School.

Board members said they liked the idea that surviving middle school sometimes takes grit and determination, just like hiking the 2,650-mile trail stretching from Mexico to Canada.

“It’s a journey, and middle school is definitely a journey,” said Cheri Helt, the board’s co-chairman.

Pacific Crest and Bridge Creek were the board’s top choices, beating out Discovery, Bachelor Butte, Deschutes River and Manzanita.

Pacific Crest Middle School, located near Summit High School on Northwest Clearwater Drive, is set to open in the fall.

With one new school named, the district will now get to work on naming the new 600-student elementary school also set to open in the fall near Southeast Reed Market Road and American Lane. A school naming committee launched an online survey this week to solicit suggestions.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the school board voted to accept an offer for a 1.64-acre lot across from Ensworth Elementary on Moonlight Drive.

Housing Works, a regional housing authority, has offered $285,000 for the land. Brad Henry, the district’s chief operations and financial officer, said the district received two offers for the property.

Board member Andy High noted before the vote he had a potential conflict of interest because he works for Central Oregon Builders Association, of which Housing Works is a member.

The Moonlight Drive property is one of two the district recently put on the market.

The other, a nearly 1-acre parcel known as Troy Field located downtown on Bond Street, may be a tougher sell. Residents at Tuesday’s meeting and at previous meetings called on the board to preserve it as open space, but school officials have said the sale could help fund the construction of schools.

The board also heard an update on the search for the district’s next superintendent. The application period closes Jan. 22, and the board plans to begin interviewing candidates next month.

Steven Lowder, a consultant with McPherson & Jacobson LLC, the firm helping with the search, said there are already more than 30 application in process.

Lowder presented findings from a survey of various stakeholders regarding qualities they wanted to see in the next superintendent. Those included transparency, financial responsibility and the ability to collaborate with employees.

— Reporter: 541-617-7837,

aspegman@bendbulletin.com

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. In the original version, the source of Andy High’s potential conflict of interest in a real estate deal was misidentified. High works for Central Oregon Builders Association, of which Housing Works is a member. The Bulletin regrets the error.