The Montgomery County School Board approved the name 6-0 at its meeting Tuesday night. Board member Penny Franklin abstained.

School administrators recommended the name after residents and students at both Shawsville and Elliston-Lafayette elementary schools voted on their favorites.

Both the 48-year-old Elliston-Lafayette Elementary and the 38-year-old Shawsville Elementary will combine to form the new school. It's expected to cost $26 million and be able to house 600 students.

"I'm glad the community came together," said board member David Dunkenberger, who represents the eastern part of the county.

He sat on a committee began meeting in March to discuss the new school's name. As a result, suggestion boxes were placed throughout the area and each classroom at both elementary schools chose a name.

Every class at Elliston-Lafayette voted for Eastern Montgomery Elementary, said Principal Denise Boyle. In August, she was named principal of the consolidated school as well.

The name, the same as the high school, will provide cohesion for the community, she said, and show a "strong support" for community life.

"I think the community is very excited about this new school," she said.

The new building is taking shape, with masonry work complete on many portions, sewer and water lines in place and the front entrance visible.

Boyle said orders for furniture have been made and she's looking into technology and playground equipment.

The next decision will be a mascot, color scheme and motto, she said. Those will be student-made decisions. The process will be the same, with students submitting their choices. That is expected to take place in the next two weeks.

Both Shawsville Middle School and Eastern Montgomery High School are called the Mustangs.

Franklin said she abstained because she was too uncertain about the process for naming new schools to decide on this one.

The school board's policy requires a committee of community members, parents, teachers and school administrators to decide how to name the school. They are charged with putting forth suggestions, and the school board has the final approval.

Franklin said her concerns stemmed from naming processes years ago. She said members of the black community were told that schools were named after their locations.