Tense debate ends with Central Unified renaming Fresno school. Here’s the new name

James K. Polk Elementary School in Fresno will now be Central Elementary School following a heated debate late Tuesday at the Central Unified School Board meeting.

The board selected the new name on a 4-2 vote, a decision that didn’t match the sentiment of the meeting’s speakers and wasn’t one of the most favored names community members suggested.

Central student Malachi Suarez, 11, who spearheaded the movement to rename Polk Elementary, said the board didn’t listen to him and all those who supported what he started.

More than 50 people spoke about the elementary school’s name, with most advocating for the change, including five family members of Maria Moreno, a labor rights organizer whom 177 community members said should be the school’s new namesake.

But speakers on both sides of the debate were discontent with the school board.

They called out the board for disregarding the community input and ignoring students who said they felt unwelcomed during input sessions.

A community member said the board caved to “minority activists” by voting for the name change. Another told the board to “stop ignoring the needs and aspirations of your students.”

Gina Sellers, a Central Unified parent and member of the subcommittee to study the district’s schools and mascots, told the board she would not address them with reason and logic Tuesday.

“Since you like to respond to threats, you can respond to mine,” she said. “You have completely defied the constituents who elected you and put you where you are.”

She was removed from the meeting after a third warning to stop speaking and step back from the podium after her minute and a half time for public comments ended.

The June vote for a name change followed the survey where just over 60% said they wanted to keep Polk’s name.

Community members have challenged the survey results, with many arguing students were left out.

After the vote for a name change, the school district solicited names for the school from the community.

More than 750 responded, with 259 saying they wanted it to be Polk Elementary after the street Polk Avenue, which is also named after President Polk. Fifty-two more said the school should not be renamed.

Maria Moreno was a farmworker and labor organizer and the first woman hired as a union organizer in the 1950s. Community members said she is a role model for youth, for girls specifically, Native and Mexican Americans, American workers, and farm workers.

Other suggestions that had at least 12 votes were:

• Dolores Huerta, American labor leader and civil rights activist, 12 votes

• Donald Trump, the 45th president, 12 votes

• Margaret Mims, a retiring Fresno County Sheriff, 27 votes

Two board members wanted name to remain Polk

Trustees Jeremy Mehling and Jason Paul pushed to keep the Polk name on the school.

Mehling said his decision to keep Polk’s name is not a simple or racist decision but a practical decision.

Paul said he remained concerned that outside influences were “overshadowing” the voices of Central Unified residents.

“This has to do with practicality, what the (Central Unified) community wants, and the desire to see effort, time and money spent where it belongs, which is the betterment of education,” Paul said.

Naming the school after another individual puts the district in the same position years from now, Mehling said with Trustee Yesenia Carillo agreeing that it shouldn’t be named after a person but after a staple for the community.

Board policy 7310 says the board can name facilities after:

• Individuals, living or deceased, who have made outstanding contributions to the county or community

• Individuals, living or deceased, who have made contributions of state, national or worldwide significance

• The geographic area in which the school or building is located

• Or, other names may be submitted for consideration by the Board

One community member who suggested Central Elementary did so because it “celebrates the district, shows no bias/favoritism/prejudice toward any group” and it is “impartial.”

Trustee Shawn Brooks nominated Central Elementary.

Gabriel Suarez, Malachi’s father, shouted out “representation matters” and “you’re ignoring the community” ahead of the vote.

He was among the frustrated supporters of a Maria Moreno Elementary School who left the meeting after the vote, yelling about representation and shouting that trustees were supporting white supremacy and should be removed from office.

Suarez has a been vocal in his critiques of the yearlong process, which he said was designed as a barrier to a name change and has silenced voices.

The process was “disruptive” to the Central Unified community, Trustee Yesenia Carrillo said, noting that students and administration staffers and trustees were verbally attacked.

‘Malachi did everything right’

Some critics at Tuesday’s meeting said they weren’t surprised by the vote and said the process was manipulated to exclude people of color.

“How can you do this?” said Michael Kurnosoff, a community member who was on the subcommittee that studied the district’s school names.

Central’s community is made up of Black and brown students in poverty who need someone like Moreno to look up to, he said.

And Malachi did everything right, he said.

In July 2021, Malachi made his presentation to the school board about Polk being a slave owner, against the abolishment of slavery and a vocal supporter of Manifest Destiny which was considered a God-given right to occupy North American territories. He demanded the board change the name to someone who promoted inclusivity and for a vote by the next board meeting. The Central Unified School Board voted to appoint a committee to study the appropriateness of school names and mascots.

Since then Malachi’s petition to change the school name has garnered more than 3,000 signatures.

Most recently, Malachi received letters of support from Vicky Ruiz, Distinguished Professor Emerita of History and Chicano/Latino Studies and 2014 National Humanities Medalist and from Laurie Coyle, who has worked for 30 years making historical, biographical and cultural films for public television. Coyle directed and produced Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno, a documentary about Maria Moreno that aired in 2019. The letters were sent to the board.

Even though the board’s vote blocks future boards from changing the name of the school for the next 15 years, Moreno’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are proud of Malachi’s work to raise awareness about the woman Maria Moreno was.

Raising awareness

Erica Cienfuegoz, a Central Unified parent, is the great granddaughter of Moreno and came to the meeting in support of the change.

“Malachi brought her name to light,” she said.

It was exciting for Cienfuegoz to be a part of the effort to change Polk Elementary, but was disappointed Moreno’s name wasn’t selected.

“She was a part of history,” her great granddaughter said. “For us to be a part of that was amazing. This is how it’s going to get started.”