IDAHO FALLS — The Bonneville School District has a new name and mascot for its unfinished high school — again.
Trustees approved Thunder Ridge Titans, with royal blue, silver and black as the school colors.
The board’s decision came Wednesday night, after a survey revealed the majority of Bonneville patrons favored the new name and mascot.
“I think the people in the district have spoken pretty clearly about what they want,” said trustee Amy Landers. “I think we need to support that.”
Throughout October, a committee comprised partly of students sifted through some 5,700 suggestions that came in the wake of a social media outcry over the district’s previously adopted name and mascot — Black Canyon Phantoms. As a result, the board ditched the original name, formed a new naming committee and started the process over.
(Some patrons took issue with Phantoms because the new school lies next to a cemetery; others said the acronym, BCHS, was reminiscent of a seven-letter derogatory word.)
Committee members presented the board with the top four names and mascots Wednesday night. Black Canyon Phantoms was back in the runnings, along with Ridgeline Rebels and Eastridge Spartans.
Though trustees unanimously settled on Thunder Ridge, they had a couple snags along the way.
Board members Paul Jenkins and Brian McBride worried that the new name could create confusion because of nearby Thunder Stadium, which serves the district’s two existing high schools.
As a result, McBride motioned to call the school Ridgeline and keep the Titans mascot. But Landers and other board members said they wouldn’t vote for something patrons didn’t favor. McBride’s motion failed.
Landers then motioned for Thunder Ridge Titans.
“I actually like it,” said parent Callie Belnap. “I’m just happy that the district included the kids in the process this time around and that it’s over.”
Thunder Ridge High is located at 4928 E 1st St. in Idaho Falls, between the district’s two existing high schools. It’s scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.
Patrons living in the district will see a raise of $2.92 per month for every $100,000 of taxable property as a result of the bond for the project.
