LCPS board may vote Tuesday to remove César Chávez name from elementary school
Las Cruces Public Schools board members may vote Tuesday on whether to remove César Chávez’s name from an elementary school following weeks of public input and prior discussions.
Agenda calls for discussion and possible approval following weeks of public input and earlier debate tied to abuse allegations
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education is set to discuss — and may vote on — whether to remove the name of César Chávez from a local elementary school during its Tuesday meeting, following weeks of public input and earlier board discussions tied to abuse allegations and a broader reevaluation of Chavez’s legacy.
The item appears on the April 21 agenda as “discussion and possible approval,” with a motion prepared that would remove the name from César E. Chávez Elementary if adopted by the board. District materials also outline a timeline and process to select a new name should the measure pass.
Damien Willis
From discussion to decision point
The agenda item marks the latest step in a process that began in March, when board members first raised the possibility of removing Chávez’s name after allegations involving the labor leader surfaced publicly.
At that meeting, district officials framed the issue as one of alignment with the district’s mission and values, and several board members signaled support for a name change. No action was taken at the time, but the discussion led to additional opportunities for public input.
Since then, the district has held a special session at the school and collected feedback from the community, including dozens of emails submitted through a dedicated district address.
Part of a broader reevaluation
Materials prepared for Tuesday’s meeting place the local discussion within a wider context, citing similar actions and debates in other cities and school districts, including a recent decision in Santa Fe to remove Chávez’s name from an elementary school.
Across the country, institutions have begun reassessing Chávez’s public legacy following abuse allegations, prompting renaming efforts and policy changes in multiple jurisdictions.
While the board packet references those developments, it does not directly state a specific local rationale for the proposed change beyond the prior discussions and community input.
What happens if approved
If the board votes to remove the name, the district plans to begin a community-driven renaming process as early as April 22, with a new name expected to be selected by May 19 and formally adopted July 1.
Under the proposed process, students, staff and community members would submit name suggestions, which would be narrowed through classroom and staff review before final consideration by the board.
District estimates place the cost of renaming — including signage and related updates — at roughly $14,000.
Tuesday's board meeting, which will also be streamed here, is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.
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