Eugene School District 4J has launched a four-month renaming process to give César Chávez Elementary a new name.

Anyone in the community can submit an idea (including their reasoning) through an online form before the nomination period closes Oct. 23.

The school board voted in June to proceed with renaming the school after The New York Times reported in March that Chavez, the immigrant rights and labor activist, sexually abused two young girls and raped activist Dolores Huerta.

The report triggered community concern about the appropriateness of a 4J elementary school being named after Chavez. The school was renamed in 2004 to honor Chavez’s pivotal role in immigrant and labor rights history, and it was a point of pride for the district’s Latino community at the time.

District Chief of Staff Carmen Xiomara Urbina said in June that surveys showed parents and staff wanted to preserve the celebration of Latino heritage in the renaming.

“Our goal is to find a name that students, families, staff, and the community can carry forward with pride and a strong sense of belonging,” Chavez Principal Kevin Gordon stated in a 4J press release Monday. “We want this process to reflect the voices, experiences, hopes, and values of the people who know and care about this school.”

After nominations close, a renaming committee will narrow down name submissions to a list of finalists, which will be shared with the public Nov. 9.

The public will then have 11 days to provide feedback. Current Chavez families and staff will then give up to three final names, ranked, to the school board for consideration. These names will be first presented at the Dec. 16 board meeting.

The public will then be able to give testimony at the Jan. 20 board meeting and the final board vote will be Feb. 3.

The renaming committee will prioritize inclusivity, representation of student identity and culture, local Eugene history, geography and values, and educational importance.

The committee will also consider the long-term viability of the name and any pronunciation, translation or practical implementation concerns.

Lilly is a graduate of Indiana University and has worked as a journalist at the Indianapolis Star and in Burlington, Vermont, as well as working as a foreign language teacher in France. She covers education and children's issues for Lookout Eugene-Springfield.