The Fresno Unified School Board is moving to address concerns regarding facility names and murals honoring the late César Chávez after his alleged history of sexual abuse came to light.

On Wednesday, trustees will consider a resolution that aims to engage the community and determine next steps. The item sits on the consent agenda, where content is typically approved in one vote.

“The board recognizes the importance of establishing a consistent, transparent, and community-centered process for addressing concerns related to facility names, murals, or likenesses of individuals represented on district property,” the resolution states.

Last month, The New York Times released a multi-year investigation on Chávez, including several allegations of raping underage girls. Following the bombshell report, United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta shared her story. She said Chávez raped her twice in the 60s, resulting in two pregnancies.

The news rocked the Central Valley, home to the farmworker movement, which previously proudly repped Chávez’s name.

In March, Fresno Unified did not participate in a César Chávez Day celebration. Now, school leaders are a vote away from doubling down on distancing the district from Chávez.

If trustees approve the resolution, the district will engage with the community to determine whether to remove representations of the labor leader.

Similarly, local leaders began scrambling to rid the area of Chávez’s likeness. The city council voted to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Fresno State removed a statue of the labor leader, and Fresno County changed the name of César Chávez Day to Fresno County Farmworker and Agriculture Appreciation Day.

Related Story: Fresno Council Starts on Path of Restoring Old Street Names From Chavez Blvd

Fresno Unified Will Reassess all Representations of César Chávez

Fresno Unified acknowledges the “historical and cultural significance” of Chávez while recognizing community concerns regarding his likeness on district property.

The district’s adult school is housed downtown at the César Chávez Education Center, 2500 E. Stanislaus Ave.

“Murals, facility names, and other forms of public art or representation within school campuses play an important role in shaping school culture, community identity, and student experience,” the resolution states.

The district will create a process for gathering community preferences on the removal, preservation, restoration, or replacement of murals depicting Chávez and facilities bearing his name.

Related Story: Fresno State Swiftly Removes César Chávez Statue Following Sexual Abuse ...

Fresno Unified will most likely facilitate this through community listening sessions, according to district spokesperson AJ Kato.

Currently, the district is doing an assessment of all buildings, murals, and curriculum that will be addressed and potentially altered or removed. There is not yet a cost estimate for these changes, Kato said.

This is in line with the district’s Community Engagement Guardrail, which requires consultation with the community when decisions may “significantly impact school culture or identity.”

Additionally, any consideration of altering, removing, or replacing murals or other artistic works will include direct communication with the original artist, the resolution states.

School Board Has Power to Change Building Names

The School Board can remove building names, but the district has decided to make these changes alongside the community.

“The board reserves the authority to terminate the naming right if it determines that the grantee, subsequent to receiving the naming right, has engaged in any criminal or unlawful acts that might bring the district into disrepute,” board policy 7310 states.

Fresno Unified says it will utilize the same process for any future concerns of the same nature.