Will Central Valley schools named after Cesar Chavez be renamed?

California school districts with schools that bear Cesar Chavez’s name are grappling with whether to rename their campuses following sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader.

According to California Department of Education data, there are eight of the 50 or so California schools named after Cesar Chavez are dotted across the Central Valley.

A spokesperson for Madera Unified School District said the school district is not considering renaming Cesar Chavez School, one of the district’s elementary schools in the city’s southeast corner.

“If any future considerations arise, they will be approached thoughtfully, in alignment with board policy and with input from our community,” a spokesperson for the district said.

Sacramento City Unified said it’s preparing to start community conservations and plans to rename Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School in the city’s Meadowview neighborhood.

Stockton Unified also has one school named after Chavez and said it is “continuing to gather information.” The district said it would form a Citizens’ Advisory Committee should a name change be considered.

The only Fresno County school named in honor of Chavez is in Parlier Unified. The district did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Bakersfield City School District has one school named after Chavez, and the district said it’s “evaluating all options” regarding the name. Another Kern County district, Delano Joint Unified, said it’s reviewing the name of its school named after Chavez.

Chavez has one school named after him in Merced County. Jose Gonzalez, superintendent of Planada Elementary School District, said no formal decisions have been made about the school name, though the district is considering all options and will discuss the matter during a special board discussion Thursday night.

Ceres Unified in Stanislaus County has one school named after Chavez. Although the district hasn’t made any decisions yet, it’s keeping an eye on the matter.

“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will determine any next steps as appropriate and in accordance with our Board Policy, which allows for the renaming of existing schools or facilities under extraordinary circumstances and after thorough study,” a spokesperson for the district said.