Students and parents at Wilson Elementary School in West Contra Costa County, Calif. are asking to change the name of the school to honor Michelle Obama, the former first lady. The Richmond campus is being rebuilt at 629 42nd Street in Richmond, Calif. and is operating temporarily at an El Cerrito, Calif. location.
An East Bay elementary school is being renamed to honor one of country’s most recent First Ladies, according to the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
Wilson Elementary School will be renamed “Michelle Obama Elementary School” once its currently under-construction Richmond campus opens its doors for the 2020-2021 school year. The school is temporarily housed at a location in El Cerrito.
The district’s school board unanimously approved the name change to honor Obama at the district’s board meeting on Wednesday night.
Board President Stephanie Hernandez-Jarvis said in a statement:
“Naming this school after Michelle Obama is a sign of the school’s rebirth.”
“We can see the new physical structure being built, but this name change sets high expectations for the students and staff as they enter a new era for this school and this school community.”
The renaming came after a request from the school’s PTA president Maisha Cole and a Jan. 23 meeting of an ad hoc committee, which recommended the change.
It is the first school in Northern California named after the former First Lady and the second school in the state.
Wilson Elementary School was named after Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States.
Last modified February 13, 2020 9:46 am
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