Renovating a Name, Too

The district is seeking ideas for renaming the new version of Woodbury school

Leila Cohen and Jaryn Marcus | March 11, 2026

The west wing of Woodbury Elementary School under construction March 11, 2026. The district is seeking new names for the renovated building, which will be a middle school.

The renovation of Woodbury Elementary School has prompted the district to ask about a new name for the building, which will become the middle school.

Woodbury opened in 1918 as a high school, then became a junior high school serving students in grades seven through nine before becoming home to the district’s fifth and sixth graders.

The district’s plan to renovate its elementary schools, beginning with Woodbury, is underway. The deteriorating conditions of the buildings prompted renovations. According to a post at Build Shaker Better, the discovery of shale rock underground will delay the intended opening of the new middle school, which the district had predicted would occur at the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year.

The new building will include a new gymnasium, pool and a new name. Junior Theodore McGuinness said that a new building will improve students’ learning. “I think the renovations could make school a much better learning environment for the kids, a fresh start,” he said.

As renovation proceeds, the district has formed a committee to select a new name for Woodbury. The first meeting will occur tomorrow.

McGuinness said the district should change the name. “Give it something important and with more meaning,” he said. “I think the new building should be named Shaker Heights Middle School, because that’s what it is, a middle school. It’s grades six through eight.”

Most people asked about what the renovated school should be called said, “Shaker Heights Middle School” because that’s what the school will be.

Senior Cassie Lyles said that she is unsure about renaming the school. “I mean, I guess if they’re redoing the whole structure, why not rename it, but also why not keep it the same if it’s been like that for so long?” Lyles said.

Social Studies teacher Bradley Bullard said that it would be nice to rename the building after a person, such as a famous graduate, and that a name change would contribute to a fresh start. “I’ve said for a long time that I wish that our buildings looked a little bit nicer on the inside because I really feel like it is a motivating factor,” Bullard said. “If you feel like you’re working in a dungeon, that’s probably the work you’re gonna put out. If you’re in a space center that looks like a NASA test lab, you’re probably gonna work a bit better.