New school named Blue Hole Primary
Blue Hole Primary will be the official name of the new school being built on Winters Mill Parkway and Ranch Road 12 after the Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees voted last week.
“This new name highlights the importance of water to the Wimberley Valley, the fact that it is a One Water School and recognizes an important landmark in Wimberley,” WISD Superintendent Dwain York said.
The campus will be the first One Water Campus in the state of Texas with plans to include rainwater and HVAC condensate collection together with wastewater treatment and reuse in the construction of the new school, focusing on conservation of natural resources, green storm water infrastructure, open space preservation and education.
York said that when discussions initially began on the One Water concept, the location of the property, nestled directly between Jacob’s Well and Blue Hole, was a big selling point. That point wasn’t lost as the school district decided on a new name.
The district asked for the public’s input on the name of the school and dozens were suggested.
“I voted for Blue Hole Primary in connection with Tuck Blythe Gymnasium, because I liked naming the school Blue Hole due to its proximity and due the fact that Blue Hole is an iconic natural landmark here in Wimberley,” School Board President Joe Malone said. “It also coincided nicely with the name of our other elementary school Jacob’s Well.”
The top three names suggested were Blue Hole, Cypress Creek and H. Tucker Blythe.
Blythe was the first principal of Wimberley High School, when it was still located at Danforth and held grades five through 12. After four years, the principal position at Scudder Primary opened up, and Blythe chose to take on the role – which he held for 16 years. He then became a Board of Trustee for Wimberley ISD from 2009 to 2014.
“When I walked into last week’s school board meeting, I had no idea that my former students had started an initiative to name the school after me,” Blythe, who himself voted for the name Blue Hole Primary, said.
Each vote came with a few words about why the individual thought the name was appropriate.
“It is a little overwhelming,” Blythe said. “You hope you are having the right influence. You hope you are doing the right things for people, but you really don’t know. You are doing your best, but your accolades come with a little pat on the back. This showing from my former students was overwhelming affirmation to me. It means more to me than anything anyone could say or do. That overwhelming show of love and warmth that came out of all that… I don’t know how many people get to see their eulogies before they pass, and I’ve still got quite a few good years left, but I think I’ve got to see a pretty good view of it. That was special.”
In the end, the gymnasium at the new school was named after Blythe.
York said that the construction of the school is currently on time and on budget. The district is hoping to bring teachers into the school in July of 2020 before the start of the next school year.