School in Richmond to be named for Obama
A Richmond elementary school will be named after Michelle Obama, marking the first school in Northern California and the second in the state to honor the former first lady, who has championed education and child health initiatives.
The West Contra Costa County Unified School District voted unanimously at its Wednesday night meeting to rename Wilson Elementary School to Michelle Obama Elementary School.
“The parents and students advocated to rename their school after Michelle Obama because they believe the values our former First Lady embodies and the educational, childcentered causes she champions, are representative of what we all aspire to nurture in our school communities,” board President Stephanie HernandezJarvis said in a statement. “She is a role model for our children and we strive to serve our students with the same kind of love, advocacy, and courage that she served our country.”
The name change coincides with a renovation. The district said the school is temporarily housed in El Cerrito while its 42nd and Roosevelt Avenue campus is rebuilt. The school was first constructed in the 1920s and named after Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. It is expected to return to its original location with its new name to start the 202021 school year.
Parent Teacher Association members requested that the board consider the name change. A committee voted Jan. 23 to recommend renaming after two meetings with community input.
“We wanted to choose someone on a global level,” PTA President Maisha Cole said. “With a new school and new learning environment, we want our children to think beyond Richmond, to think beyond California, and remind them that they can make a difference locally and globally.”
Michelle Obama Elementary in Los Angeles is the other school in the state to honor the first lady in its name, according to the California Department of Education.
“With a new school and new learning environment, we want our children to ... think beyond California.”
Maisha Cole, Wilson Elementary School PTA president