The Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s 21st campus will carry the name of a man who spent four decades mentoring youths in the Santa Maria Valley.
William “Bill” Libbon Elementary School, under construction at 720 Meehan St, will honor the long-time director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Maria Valley, the Board of Education decided unanimously Wednesday night after rejecting two other finalists.
The decision occurred during a meeting with some board members appearing remotely, and with a mostly empty board room due to social-distancing rules.
“Just imagine if everybody was here,” said John Hollinshead, board president. “That’s a really big piece of the last one that’s missing is seeing the family and those who are in support of it. To all of you out there, we’re just imagining we’re seeing your faces.”
The is the second time in five years the board has taken the step of naming a new school, with immigrant brothers Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jimenez picked in 2015 as the name of the 20th campus.
At that time, Libbon’s name also landed among the top three finalists.
“I’m very humbled and very grateful for this honor,” Libbon told Noozhawk after Wednesday’s vote.
He added he was grateful for the support of family, friends and former kids now adults.
“It’s overwhelming,” added Libbon, who retired in 2014 after 40 years. “It’s really a fantastic honor.”
In choosing the community favorite and option that attracted numerous letters of support, the board rejected naming it after Joseph Enos, whose family owned the land where the campus sits, and Pleasant Valley, reflecting history as the name of Santa Maria’s first school.
This was the second meeting the board discussed the name with members divided on the options in April and deciding to delay the decision.
“I want to assure the public that part of the reason we’re back here is we’re trying to make this a responsible and measured and equitable process for all the nominees,” Hollinshead said.
By far, community members supported naming the school after Libbon as they flooded the board with letters urging the choice after sharing how he influenced their lives.
A Facebook page also was created to back naming the new school after Libbon.
“It has been an exciting experience to see and read the overwhelming support for Bill Libbon including pictures and stories of his impact in our community,” said Diana Perez, a member of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board.
“Once again, I appeal to you to take into consideration the incredible gratitude our community has for a man who has devoted over 40 years of his life to improve the lives of others,” she added.
The Pleasant Valley name drew opposition from the Santa Ynez Valley where Santa Maria’s historical Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse building was relocated and now serves as a living history museum in Buellton.
Hollinshead said he considered the name Enos too closely connected with the nearby commercial development, home to Lowe’s, Costco and other businesses.
“If we’re going to confuse Pleasant Valley with a school that’s down in Santa Ynez or Buellton, I can pretty much guarantee you that Enos Ranch is going to be associated with going to get food and hardware,” he said.
The new school will open when the other 20 schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District re-open their campuses, possibly this fall.
Learning for students at the new Libbon Elementary and other Santa Maria-Bonita students will begin Aug. 13, the start of the 2020-21 school year.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.