Central Unified in Fresno to consider changing school names

A committee recommended that Fresno’s Central Unified School District consider changing the names of two schools — Houghton-Kearney K-8 School and James K. Polk Elementary, and the logo of Madison Elementary School, according to the Fresno Bee.

The school board is expected to address the recommendation at its June 28 meeting.

The committee had originally considered whether to change the name of seven schools and two logos. In the end, they only chose two schools, because of racist views and history of President James K. Polk and local nineteenth-century land developer Martin Theodore Kearney. In addition, they are recommending considering changing the Native American logo of Madison Elementary School.

The process of considering changing the names has been tense, with students, family members and others arguing fervently on both sides.

In the case of Polk Elementary, a student Malachi Suarez gathered more than 3,300 signatures in favor of changing the name.