At the May 7 meeting of the CUSD Board of Trustees, the Board voted to move forward with the renaming of Cesar Chavez Junior High School (CCJHS). This decision followed thorough study and multiple opportunities for public input regarding whether or not the school should be renamed.
Thank you to everyone who participated through listening sessions, our community town hall, feedback forms, or phone calls. Of those who shared feedback, 53 percent supported renaming the school, 34 percent opposed renaming, and 13 percent were neutral (no strong opinion). We appreciate the thoughtful perspectives that were shared.
The next phase of the process will focus on gathering and reviewing name recommendations from the community.
Renaming process:
Consistent with Board Policy (BP) 7310, an ad hoc committee will review community suggestions and narrow the list to three options for the Board’s final consideration on June 18, 2026. Names that meet the following criteria will be considered:
In honor of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the school district or community; OR
In recognition of the geographic areas in which the school, building, or facility is located
How to recommend a name:
Deadline: Wednesday, May 27 at 11 a.m.
CUSD parents/guardians, employees, students, and Ceres community members are invited to submit a recommendation. Recommended names must align with one of the criteria listed above and all sections of the official recommendation form must be completed. Late submissions, or those in any other format, will not be accepted.
Digital submission - Click Public School Name Recommendation Form and complete all parts of the form. Be sure to click “Submit” before exiting out of the form; OR
· In-person or by mail - Pick up a printed form at the CCJHS front office or the District Office (2503 Lawrence St., Ceres). Completed forms can be returned to any CUSD school or mailed to:
CUSD Student Support Services
2503 Lawrence St.
Ceres, CA 95307
Apply for the ad hoc committee:
The ad hoc committee will include parents/guardians, staff, students, Board members, and community representatives. Committee members are excluded from submitting names for consideration.
Interested parties must be available to meet on Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to noon at CCJHS, and if needed, on Monday, June 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at CCJHS.
To express interest in applying to participate in the ad hoc committee, please phone (209) 556-1550 no later than Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m.
Any questions about the renaming process may also be directed to the above number.