New name, new mission: Next fall, Meridian’s Linder Elementary School will become the Barbara Morgan STEM Academy.

Who is Barbara Morgan? Idaho’s first lady of space. Morgan was an elementary teacher in McCall when she was selected to participate in NASA’s Teacher in Space program. In 2007, she logged more than 305 hours in space on shuttle Endeavour’s mission to the International Space Station. In 2008, Morgan joined Boise State as a distinguished educator in residence, helping with STEM policy and advocacy.

What will the STEM academy offer? Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), of course. Morgan will help develop the program.

What’s next? Between now and next fall, the district will complete work on the science classroom facilities. It will hold meetings in the next month to provide parents enrollment information. If demand exceeds capacity, enrollment will be determined by lottery. The school has 317 students, with room for several hundred more, the district said.

Learn more about STEM On Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., BSU will host a free program for K-12 students to explore science, technology, engineering and math with hands-on activities and presentations from Morgan. It’s at the Engineering Complex, 1375 University Drive. Parking in the Lincoln Avenue garage is free. Schedule: coen.boisestate.edu/stemexploration.