WATSONVILLE, Calif., Aug. 7 (Santa Cruz News Online) — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 4-1 to rename Cesar E. Chavez Middle School in Watsonville as Central Coast Middle School, changing the name students, families and staff use for the campus on Arthur Road.
Trustee Daniel Dodge Jr. cast the dissenting vote. Trustees Jessica Carrasco and Olivia Flores were absent. The approved name keeps the school’s existing CCMS acronym, according to Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials.
The district has not provided a confirmed effective date for the change in the information available. The transition is expected to affect school signs, branding and other materials, but the district said students will continue attending the same middle school at the same campus.
Why was the school name changed?
The new name was selected through a district renaming process that included input from parents, students, staff, alumni and other community members. A renaming committee considered possible names and unanimously recommended Central Coast Middle School, according to district information.
The name refers to the broader region served by the school district. Another proposed option was Tagami-Hashimoto Middle School, which would have honored Jeff Tagami and Mas Hashimoto for their contributions to Pajaro Valley students and the community.
The board’s decision followed discussion about the school’s existing name and allegations involving Cesar Chavez. The available information does not include the underlying allegations, related documents or responses from Chavez’s representatives, so those claims are not detailed here.
What will change for students and families?
The most visible changes are expected to involve the school’s name and visual identity. District officials said the transition is expected to cost less than $25,000 because existing signs and branding materials can be reused or modified.
That estimate differs from an earlier district estimate that the change could cost more than $100,000. The available information does not include a district budget document or an explanation for the difference between the estimates.
The name change does not itself alter the school’s grade levels, campus location or school district. Enrollment, transportation and other student services were not identified as changing as part of the board’s action.
How will Cesar Chavez’s legacy be addressed?
The board also suggested forming a committee to decide where to place a mural or another permanent visual display honoring the history and stories of the local Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
That proposal would create a separate way to recognize community history at or near the campus while the school adopts its new name. The board has not yet identified the mural’s location, design or timeline.
Central Coast Middle School is part of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which serves students in the Watsonville and Pajaro Valley area. The district’s governing board is elected and is responsible for decisions such as school names, while the campus principal and district staff handle day-to-day school operations.
