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Community advocates urge committee to rename Chavez Elementary for Roberto G. Sanchez
Summary
Two public commenters with long ties to the Sanchez Scholars Program urged the MMSD Chavez school renaming committee to consider Roberto G. Sanchez for Chavez Elementary, citing the program's local roots, scholarship pipeline and sustained community impact.
Two community members told the Madison Metropolitan School District Chavez school renaming committee on July 15 that Roberto G. Sanchez's name deserves consideration for rechristening Chavez Elementary.
Catherine Price, who said she was the only remaining former district staffer who worked directly with Professor Sanchez, told the committee the Sanchez Scholars Program traces to MMSD partnerships and philanthropic support that created a postsecondary pathway for first-generation students. She described Sanchez as "humble" and said his financial support and vision benefited students at Madison College and UW'Madison as well as MMSD. "This connection between MMSD and Professor Sanchez ensured his vision aligned perfectly with MMSD priorities," Price said.
Leslie, identified as a coordinator for the Sanchez Scholars Program with the Madison School District, also urged the committee to place Sanchez on its list. "Being the coordinator of the Sanchez Scholars Program has been life changing for me," she said, recounting the program's 25th anniversary and naming program alumni who now work locally as teachers and support staff. Leslie said her family's personal ties to Chavez and the sustained contribution of scholarship recipients motivated her advocacy.
Facilitator Chelsea Tubbs told the committee that public comment is a time for community members to speak without committee response; two speakers had up to three minutes each under the meeting rules. The committee did not deliberate or take a formal vote on the nomination during this meeting.
Next steps: committee members continue scoring 77 candidate names; Tubbs reminded members the scoring and any optional notes are due by 9 a.m. on Monday, July 20, and that flagged names will be forwarded to the researcher for verification before the committee advances referrals to the board.
