BOOK'S STILL OPEN ON NEW SCHOOL NAME.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

What's in a name?

Plenty, according to at least one school board member who is unhappy with a proposal to name Simi Valley's new magnet school ``Odyssey High.''

A 12-member committee spent weeks contemplating various names for the magnet high school, selecting ``Odyssey'' because the name symbolizes ``a journey of challenges and opportunities,'' said Pat Hauser, incoming principal at the magnet school and head of the magnet high school committee.

``It's something new and different,'' Hauser said. ``We look at it as a journey of opportunities and challenges, and we think the name reflects that spirit.''

School board member Debbie Sandland, however, said the name does not fit the character of Simi Valley.

``A name really means a lot, for character and identification,'' Sandland said. ``I would like to see a stronger, good, solid name. Odyssey doesn't fit in.''

Sandland suggested that ``Sequoia High School,'' for instance, would be a more appropriate name. The magnet school will take over the Sequoia Junior High campus in the fall.

School board President Judy Barry, however, said she is ``satisfied'' with the proposed name but will wait until tonight to make a final decision on her vote.

``I think it fits in well,'' Barry said. ``It's a short name, and it fits in with the whole idea of new beginnings.''

Trustees had planned on voting on the name during a board meeting earlier this month but tabled the issue because they wanted to give the community more time to give input.

Sandland said of the roughly 50 local residents she had heard from, most were against the name selected by the committee.

``I'm afraid that this is going to be the source of jokes,'' said Sandland. ``I don't want a laughable name for our school.''

Trustees will vote on the issue during tonight's meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Simi Valley City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.