Lynwood Unified board names April 2, 2026, Farmworkers' Day and directs expedited school renaming process

The Lynwood Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously on March 26 to recognize April 2, 2026, as Farmworkers' Day and to begin an expedited process to rename the middle school currently bearing Cesar Chavez’s name.

Board member Dr. Castro moved the action to recognize April 2 as Farmworkers' Day; Miss Lopez seconded the motion, and the board approved it 5–0. Legal counsel had advised that because the state’s renaming occurred after the board’s agenda was posted, the board could make a procedural two‑thirds finding to add the action to the agenda and then vote on it.

Superintendent presented staff recommendations aligning district language with the state's change, and trustees argued for immediate and subsequent formal steps. Trustee Dr. Hardy raised procedural questions about timing; Trustee Del Real Calleros, Trustee Lopez and others urged the board to include student voice and to move the renaming process forward without undue delay.

On the separate but related issue of the middle school name, trustees discussed options including an expedited renaming policy, forming a community committee, and whether to cover existing signage temporarily. The board directed the superintendent to begin the fastest feasible renaming process consistent with district policy and state requirements and to report back with a timeline and proposed community engagement steps.

Trustees emphasized that any interim steps should consider students’ well‑being: several trustees asked staff to explore counseling or other supports for students and whether the school façade name could be temporarily covered without changing the school’s state code or official records.

Votes at a glance

• Motion to add the renaming item to the agenda (procedural two‑thirds finding): Passed (5–0).

• Motion to recognize April 2, 2026, as Farmworkers' Day (moved by Dr. Castro; second by Miss Lopez): Passed (5–0).

What happens next

Trustees directed the superintendent to return with a draft resolution and a fast‑track community engagement plan for renaming the middle school; the board agreed that any formal change to the school name required the district’s established renaming policy and a subsequent public hearing and resolution.

Trustees said they would also consider whether the district should remove or cover social media posts and other district acknowledgments in the interim and asked staff to prepare communications for families and students.

The board did not adopt a final new name at the meeting and left details of timing and selection of a permanent name to the expedited process the superintendent will present at a future meeting.