LEWISTON – With construction of the new school under way to replace Pettingill Elementary, volunteers are sought for a committee that will recommend what to name the school, Ward 5 School Committee Norman Prevost said.

School officials are looking for five people to serve on the committee, Prevost said.

Pettingill Principal David Bartlett is also looking for new school name suggestions. “We’re encouraging suggestions from the public and the students,” Prevost said. Bartlett said he has a suggestion box in the school soliciting name ideas from students and staff.

The name committee is expected to form in mid-February. The committee will recommend new school names to the Lewiston School Committee, which will have the final say.

Construction crews broke ground on the new school in November. The school is being built at the site of Cote’s golf driving range on College Street, about a mile from the existing school. The site “looks like a big sandbox,” Bartlett said. The foundation will be built in April, if weather permits.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee, or who wants to suggest names, may mail the information to Bartlett at Pettingill Elementary School, 409 College St., Lewiston, Maine, 04240, or e-mail him at [email protected].

Voters approved the $22 million school on Feb. 27, 2007, after the project won state funding. That means state taxayers will pay for 96.5 percent of the school, Lewiston taxpayers will pick up the remaining 3.5 percent.

– Bonnie Washuk