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Las Cruces board begins formal discussion on whether to remove Cesar Chavez Elementary name
Summary
After public comment and a first reading of the district naming policy, board members debated whether to remove the Cesar Chavez Elementary School name. Administration said the decision rests with the board; staff proposed soliciting school-community feedback and estimated sign-change costs of about $12,000–$15,000.
The Las Cruces Public Schools Board opened a substantive conversation on March 24 about whether to remove the Cesar Chavez Elementary School name, following public comment and a first reading of the district’s naming policy.
President Court convened the discussion after administration presented policy FFA, which states that the board retains final authority to name or rename district facilities and that the superintendent will solicit community input when selecting a new name. Several board members said they wanted more information from the Cesar Chavez school community before taking action; others said they were inclined to remove the name after recent media reports.
Melinda Sanchez, a community member who identified herself during public comment, urged the board to keep the name, saying Cesar Chavez "represents a history of labor rights and advocacy that has done immense good" and warning that changing names risks erasing history. In contrast, Vice President Wofford said he had been "horrified" by recent reporting about alleged abuse associated with Cesar Chavez and argued the district should not continue to honor that legacy with a school name.
Superintendent Ruiz told the board the district had done initial cost estimates for signage and related changes and that a rough figure was about $12,000 to $15,000; he said that estimate is preliminary. Doctor Lozano and other administrators outlined how the policy and existing regulation distinguish the decision to remove a name (a board decision) from the structured process for selecting a replacement name (an administrative process that solicits and weighs public input).
Several board members urged a two-step approach: (1) decide whether to pursue removal of the current name, and if the board votes to proceed, (2) direct administration to collect structured feedback (surveys, consultation with school staff, families and feeder schools) and return with recommended options. Board members also discussed pacing — how much time to give the public and whether a future meeting should include a formal action item.
No motion to remove the name was taken at the March 24 meeting. President Court and administrators said the discussion was intended to inform agenda setting and potential next steps. If the board decides to remove a name, policy FFA and the associated regulation lay out a process for soliciting suggested replacement names and presenting options to the board.
Next steps: administration said it can return with a plan to solicit feedback from the Cesar Chavez school community and feeder pattern, with timelines and a refined cost estimate. The board did not set a deadline for a formal action during the March 24 session.
