District votes to change name of new elementary school

Menifee Union School District board members voted last week on a new name for the elementary school that will open next fall in the Audie Murphy Ranch community.

In early January, board members chose a name from three suggestions made by a committee that proposed naming the school after the Native American history of the area. Since then, further consultation with the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians has resulted in the selection of what is considered a more appropriate name.

The school will be named Taawila Elementary School. In the Native American language, Taawila means "sitting place." The hills surrounding Audie Murphy Ranch was once a sacred gathering place for members of the Pechanga tribe.

Ron Ulibarri, president of MUSD, said the selection was made to accurately reflect the Native American tradition without using a name that is sacred for use only with the Pechanga Tribe.

A public meeting will be held in the near future to discuss school boundaries affected by the opening of the new school.