Santa Fe school board orders immediate removal of ‘Cesar Chavez’ name from South Side elementary, adopts temporary ‘White Tigers’ designation

The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education voted March 26 to immediately remove the Cesar Chavez name from the South Side elementary school and adopt a temporary identifier, “White Tigers,” while the district begins a community‑driven process to choose a permanent name.

The decision followed extended public comment and board discussion. Community speakers and staff who addressed the board said they wanted a process that centers survivors, honors women and Indigenous perspectives, and ensures students and families can help choose a lasting identity for the school. Miguel Acosta urged the board to pair any renaming with substantive commitments, including a proposed Creative Social Justice and Cultural Education Center that would teach collective movement history rather than focusing solely on a name. "This is about whether we tell the truth and whether we value our histories equally," Acosta said during public forum.

Board members likewise emphasized a need to avoid retraumatizing community members. Board member Blea said the decision should be community‑led: "The community knows. They're the ones that live there. They're the ones that go to school there." Several board members referenced letters of support and local outreach; Vice President Bose said the change should be community driven and noted the Santa Fe legislative delegation had expressed support for renaming.

Superintendent Griffin told the board staff can act quickly to cover signage and begin interim steps. Deputy Superintendent Romero said the district could "work on removing or covering up the name in the immediate future" and produce a White Tigers banner in a few weeks. The superintendent’s office also scheduled staff and building walkthroughs to assess murals and signage and planned meetings with school staff the following day to ensure supports for staff and students.

The board’s motion, made and seconded during a public meeting, passed by voice vote. The motion directed the district to: remove or cover exterior signage promptly; adopt “White Tigers” as a temporary identifier; convene community engagement sessions over the spring and summer; and return recommended next steps for a permanent naming decision at a future board meeting.

Board members and community speakers said they hoped the process would be more than a symbolic change and would create opportunities for education about the histories and values the new name should reflect. Principal Megan McCormack, who represents the school staff, told the board she supported a short‑term plan that prioritized staff, student and family engagement and wanted a renewed start for the 2026–27 school year.

The board did not adopt a permanent new name at the meeting. Next steps identified by the board include immediate physical steps at the school (covering or removing existing name displays), community engagement meetings to solicit student and family input, and a timeline to return a recommended permanent name to the board after a district‑led public process.