Las Cruces school board discusses renaming Cesar Chavez Elementary following abuse revelations
Las Cruces school board members are weighing whether to rename César Chávez Elementary following abuse allegations that have sparked calls to remove his name from public spaces.
Discussion comes after abuse allegations against César Chávez prompt broader reconsideration of public names and honors
Leah Romero, Source New Mexico.
This article was originally published by Source New Mexico.
The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education Tuesday evening started the conversation about renaming Cesar Chavez Elementary School following allegations of sexual abuse by the late labor union leader.
The board did not take official action, but weighed their options concerning a possible name change for the school, which serves children from Pre-K through second grade, according to LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz.
“As a district, we want to ensure all learning environments align with our mission, vision and values,” Ruiz said during the meeting. He added that the cost of changing the school’s name and replacing signage would cost roughly between $12,000 and $15,000.
The board appeared to lean toward renaming the school, particularly as the allegations against Chavez detailed in the New York Times involved sexual abuse of minors.
Board Vice President Robert Wofford said during the meeting that it would be “unconscionable” to “dignify [Chavez’s actions] with a school name.” He added that if the board did move forward with renaming the school, they would not be changing history. “There is a difference between history and commemoration,” he said.
Melinda Sanchez, a Las Cruces mother, spoke during public comment against changing the school’s name and suggested focusing on teaching students about the complex history of the labor movement and its leaders.
“We often hear the argument that we need to correct history by removing names, but history isn’t something we can rewrite or delete. It is something we must learn from,” she said. “Cesar Chavez represents a history of labor rights and advocacy that has done immense good. We should focus on the positive legacy rather than discrediting it because of the modern trend.”
The elementary school’s community and other stakeholders will have a chance to voice their opinions regarding a new name at a later date, but the board ultimately has the authority to move forward with a name change. New Mexico native Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association and one of the people who disclosed she had been raped by Chavez, was mentioned as someone after whom the district might rename the school.
“The fact that we’re having this conversation now does not minimize in any way all of the work and the sacrifices of everyone that was involved in the United Farm Workers movement. We are not trying to diminish that in any way, shape or form. We honor that,” LCPS Board President Pamela Cort said during the meeting.
Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education scheduled a similar discussion during its meeting Thursday to consider renaming its local Cesar Chavez Elementary School.
Leah Romero is a freelance writer based in southern New Mexico. She can be reached at www.LeahRRomero.com.
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