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Friday, Jul. 17, 2009

New Ceres school will retain Cesar Chavez's name

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CERES -- In a 5-2 vote Thursday, Ceres Unified School District trustees decided to keep the district's third junior high school named after migrant workers' rights leader Cesar Chavez.

Trustees voted unanimously in May to name the yet-to-be-built school after Chavez, but tension over that decision has festered since.

Trustees listened to 21 speakers for and against reconsidering the name Thursday. Supporters of a Chavez Junior High said the late activist contributed indirectly to the community and would serve as inspiration to its Latinos. Opponents argued trustees went against district policy of naming schools after local people and geographic locations, and that other community members received more nominations than Chavez.

Trustees Eric Ingwerson and Mike Welsh voted to reconsider naming the school after Chavez after hearing the commotion in the community. They favored honoring a local person.