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Norwalk board unanimously names new South Norwalk school for Dr. Ruby Shaw
Summary
The Norwalk Board of Education voted unanimously Dec. 16 to name the new South Norwalk school "Dr. Ruby Shaw Elementary School," following family testimony and tributes from educators and board members to Shaw's decades-long community work.
The Norwalk Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to name the new South Norwalk school "Dr. Ruby Shaw Elementary School." The decision followed testimony from family members, community leaders and educators who described Shaw's decades of work in the district.
Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella opened the superintendent's report by recommending the naming and inviting family members to speak. "It is an honor to recommend to the board naming the new South Norwalk School building the Dr. Ruby Shaw Elementary School," Estrella said.
Fred Shaw, Dr. Shaw's brother, told the board the school and neighborhood were central to family life and praised his sister’s focus on community and inclusive education. A written statement read on behalf of a family member said the family "echo[ed] and totally agree[d]" with community support for the recognition.
Educators and former students also spoke in support. April Brown described the CLASS Project—Community Leads and Students Succeed—which she said gave students weekly programming, summer events and college tours. "Doctor Shaw's legacy lives on through all of the lives she so dynamically touched, inspired, and impacted," Brown said.
Board members who had worked with or known Shaw recounted personal memories at the meeting and expressed that naming the school would allow future students to learn about local history and leadership. After a motion to move the naming to the action portion of the agenda and a formal roll-call/voice vote, the chair declared the motion carried unanimously.
The board took a photograph with the Shaw family following the vote. With the vote, the district formally adopts the name for the new South Norwalk school; staff and trustees said the district will incorporate the name and related historical materials into school programming so students can learn about Dr. Shaw's contributions.
The board did not place conditions on the naming; no additional procedural steps were announced at the meeting.
