The Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Board of Education unanimously voted to begin the community naming process for César Chávez Elementary School.
The decision comes after the New York Times published allegations that Chávez, the renowned leader of the migrant workers’ rights movement, had sexually assaulted and abused dozens of women and girls.
The window for community members to submit naming proposals opens Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and will close on Friday, May 30, 2026.
The submission period marks the first step in a multi-phase process that includes community input, committee review and final consideration by the Board of Education. The district will convene an ad hoc renaming committee to help review submissions and recommend potential names for the school.
“This process gives our community an opportunity to help shape how our schools reflect our shared values and aspirations,” Chelsey Tubbs, associate superintendent of educational programming, said in a statement. “School names carry meaning, and we are committed to ensuring this work is thoughtful, inclusive and grounded in community voice.”
Proposals must include the significance of the suggested name and its connection to the Madison community, in alignment with district policy.
The renaming committee will be representative of the broader community and will review submissions before identifying up to four finalists for consideration. The committee will also host public engagement opportunities before forwarding recommendations to the Board of Education, which will make the final decision.
Earlier this spring, the Board of Education also began the renaming processes for Conrad A. Elvehjem and Charles Lindbergh elementary schools. Those efforts remain ongoing as part of the district’s broader commitment to ensuring school names reflect the values and priorities of the community.
MMSD has recently used this same process to select the permanent name for Lori Mann Carey Elementary School, formerly Southside Elementary School, and to rename Thomas Jefferson Middle School as Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School.
Community members can submit proposals for the school’s new name on the MMSD website at this link.
