SAN DIEGO — Henry Clay Elementary School in Rolando may soon have a new name.
Many parents and other community members have been pushing for the change, outraged their neighborhood school honors a former slave-holding statesman who worked to maintain slavery during the nineteenth century.
Two years after a group of community members led the charge to have the name of Henry Clay Elementary in Rolando changed, the suggested replacement recommended by a district committee, "Rolling Hills Leadership Elementary," is receiving forceful pushback as well.
"While the name 'Rolling Hills' did garner some support, we cannot replace on racist name with another with racist roots," said one parent who spoke out at Tuesday's school board meeting.
More than 1200 people signed the original petition to rename Henry Clay. Elementary. Clay was a 19th-century congressional representative and slaveholder whose legislation sought to preserve slavery in the South.
The suggested replacement though, the more generic-sounding "Rolling Hills," has also been rejected by these same community members.
"The district informed us that the reason for the name Rolling Hills was to honor the indigenous community, which knowing the history of Rolando and Rolling Hills is just altogether absurd," said parent Danisha Jenkins.
It is a history that includes 'racial redlining' during the 1950s, in which housing developers in Rolando excluded people of color from being able to buy homes.
"By suggesting that we call the school "Rolling Hills" and linking it to that history, we think that this is just another way of upholding white supremacy and structural racism in the schools," added parent Brian Jenkins.
The community also raised questions about how the name was ultimately chosen by an anonymous 'names committee' appointed by the district.
"We don't know who was on the names committee, we don't know what their credentials were, what their values are, what their motivations were," said parent Jerrod Tucker.
Instead, advocates for the name change say the new name needs to be restorative, many pushing for "bell hooks Elementary" after the renowned feminist author and educator.
"Rolling hills is not progressive," Tucker said at Tuesday's meeting. "Choosing bell hooks is!"
Several board members expressed their concerns with how 'Rolling Hills' was selected.
"This has a funny feel to it, if you will," said board member Sharon Whitehurst-Payne.
"I want to own that we were not transparent with the community," added Board President Shana Hazan.
Some teachers from Clay Elementary called on the board to make a decision quickly.
"The delay on your part has contributed to so many divides in our community," said teacher Rebecca McCrea.
"My vote tonight would be for bell hooks Elementary," added Whitehurst-Payne. "That's just me. I am one of five and I recognize that."
While no vote was taken Tuesday night, the board appeared united in trying to make a decision as soon as the next board meeting, set for April 30.
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