Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Naming topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board schedules April vote to rename Burnett child‑development center for Leola Havard after first reading
Summary
On a first reading, the board moved to rename the Burnett Child Development Center to the Leola Havard Early Education School; community members, historians and clergy supported the change and urged teaching students the history behind school names.
The San Francisco Board of Education on March 22 heard a first reading of a board member proposal to rename the Burnett Child Development Center to honor educator Leola Havard. The item was introduced for first reading and scheduled for final action on April 12.
Family members and community leaders spoke in support. Jerome Havard, representing his mother, said the family was honored by the proposal. Community historians and clergy framed the change in historical context, noting that Peter Burnett — the building’s current namesake and California’s first governor — supported exclusionary measures in the 19th century. Historian John Templeton and Reverend Arnold Townsend urged that when a building is named for a person, the community should teach children who that person was and why the new name matters.
Commissioners welcomed the proposal and noted the April 12 meeting will include the full board vote. The grounds/buildings committee had reviewed and advanced the first reading.
Next steps: Final vote scheduled for April 12; board staff will coordinate invitations and recognition for a renaming event.
