CAMARILLO : Tierra Linda Chosen Name of New School

After ruling out several Spanish names as either grammatically incorrect or too difficult for English speakers to pronounce, the Pleasant Valley Elementary School District board chose to name a new elementary school Tierra Linda.

The board voted unanimously Thursday in favor of the name for the planned school on Woodcreek Road near Mission Oaks Boulevard in Camarillo.

A committee of residents and district staff had presented the board with a list of eight possible names that were taken from nearly 300 suggested by teachers and community members.

But board member Dolores (Val) Rains, who teaches Spanish at St. John’s Theological Seminary in Camarillo, said at least one of the suggested names, “Arroyo Madera,” was not strictly correct.

Rains said the name, which means “wood creek,” should be “Arroyo de Madera.” But the district wanted a name with only two words.

Board member Jan McDonald objected to some suggested names, saying they are too difficult to pronounce.

“The vast majority of these kids who go to this school will not speak Spanish,” she said.

Rains said Friday she liked Tierra Linda because it means “beautiful earth.”

“And the children are coming to us to bloom,” Rains said.