The District Five Board of Trustees approved the name change Tuesday night, approving the unanimous recommendation of the Board’s Building Committee. The Building Committee chose the new name from 40 suggestions submitted by District residents. The name change will take place when the Arts Academy opens in 2011. The mission of the new Southwood will be similar to that of the District’s first arts magnet school, Calhoun Academy of the Arts, in that it will embed the arts – music, dance, visual arts and drama – into the current curriculum.
However, the Board of Trustees also approved the Committee recommendation that, in addition to the new name, the school be described on signs and in other appropriate contexts as “A Creative and Performing Arts School.” The description will appear underneath the school name to emphasize that the school will focus on performing arts as well as an arts-based curriculum.