The Port Angeles School Board voted Sept. 25 to name the new middle school Hurricane Ridge Middle School, selecting the committee-recommended name after two public comment opportunities and committee work that included staff, students, tribal representatives and community members.

The vote follows a multi-step process: a PACAC committee assembled a short list of four names, the district offered two public comment sessions and the board considered correspondence from community members. Board members described the choices as reflecting “geographic recognition to cultural significance and symbolic meaning.”

The committee proposed four names for the board’s consideration: Hurricane Ridge Middle School, Riverstone Middle School, Elwha River Middle School and Port Angeles Middle School. Board members said the new school is an opportunity to select a name that reflects the community and the new building’s identity. One board member said Hurricane Ridge is a place “when people come to town” and described teachers taking students there to watch natural phenomena; another board member noted the cost concerns about renaming were not applicable because the school is a brand-new building.

A motion to name the school Hurricane Ridge Middle School was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript for this motion; the chair called the question and the meeting record shows affirmative votes.

The board did not take additional action on signage, mascots or implementation details at the meeting; those items were not before the board and will require subsequent administrative planning and budgeting.