What's in a name? Here's what's not

'What's in a name?" the Bard wrote in his tale of star-crossed lovers.

Juliet probably never had to name a building.

That's the task before the District 203 Board of Education. Last week, they were presented with three finalists from a list of suggested names for the Early Childhood Center.

Currently under construction at Naper Boulevard and Collingwood Drive, the new facility will bring every aspect of the district's early childhood program under one roof. The program, which the district must offer to special needs and at-risk students in advance of their entrance into kindergarten, is currently housed in classrooms found in five schools spread across the district.

Last month, a committee of 22 community members including students, parents and district staff sorted through the 69 suggestions to come up with the three finalists: Ann Reid Early Childhood Center, Naperville Early Childhood Center and Veterans Early Childhood Center.

While one simply offers a geographic location, the remaining two look to honor the service of others.

But along with those three finalists, there were 66 suggestions that for some reason just didn't make the grade.

Several suggestions paid homage to the school's location in the Huntington Estates subdivision: Huntington Bridge, Huntington Equality, Huntington Hope, Huntington Scholars and, finally, Little Angels of Huntington Estates.

Quite a few individuals are named, with ideas ranging from longtime educators in the district and early settlers of Naperville to politicians including President Barack Obama and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The enchantment and possibilities of youth must have been on the minds of those who suggested names such as Adventure Land, Crayons, Little Apple, Building Blocks, Big Steps and one of my favorites, The Seuss School (Geisel Center was another reference to the good doctor).

A couple of suggestions -- Oz and Wonderland -- were made for their reference to classic children's literature. But those did little to charm the selection committee. Hmm. Wonder if it's because more recent Hollywood productions with those names are anything but G-rated.

And while it's unlikely Clark Kent was inspiration for the suggestion "Smallville" (let's hope preschoolers are not watching most CW shows) unfortunately the only thing that comes to mind with "Small Wonders" is a bad '80s sitcom with a child robot.

Finally, there are the suggestions that just seem to roll off the tongue, like Right Brain Learning Community Developmental Program. It was suggested, "based on research that young children who develop right brain skills early tend to be more balanced in life."

But for some reason, it garnered zero votes by the committee.

Yes, Juliet, sometimes a name does make a difference.