PARLIER – After much consideration and community input, Parlier Unified School District has officially changed the name of one of its elementary schools.
As of July 1, what has been known for years as Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School will now be named Tuolumne Elementary School, addressing allegations made against the political activist earlier this year while still honoring aspects of the city’s rich history. Final action was taken by the PUSD Board of Trustees during a June 23 meeting, following months of internal and external feedback.
“The decision to restore the name Tuolumne Elementary School reflects our commitment to listening to our community and ensuring that our schools represent values that unite and inspire our students,” said Superintendent Rafael Iniguez in a statement sent to Mid Valley Times. “Throughout this process, we sought thoughtful input from parents, alumni, staff, students and community members, and the overwhelming feedback was to honor the school’s historic identity through its previous name.”
Over the summer and into next school year, the school will implement new graphics, signage and school materials to reflect the name change, but the campus will maintain its mascot of the wildcat.
“While the school’s name is changing, one thing remains the same: the Wildcats mascot will continue to proudly represent our students and school community,” the district wrote in a June 30 social media post.
The news that the district would be changing the school’s name first came in late March, quickly following a New York Times investigation which revealed a number of sexual assault allegations made against Chavez.
Speaking on the reasons behind the name change, District Superintendent Rafael Iniguez previously told the Mid Valley Times that while the legacy of farmworkers has always held deep significance within the community of Parlier, as a district, the priority was to remain protective of its students while reflecting the values of residents.
In his statement, Iniguez emphasized that these priorities will remain.
“Our agricultural heritage is a source of great pride, and we remain deeply committed to honoring the men and women whose labor in our fields has created opportunities for future generations,” said Iniguez. “As we move forward, our focus remains where it has always been, providing an outstanding education for every child while preserving the pride, heritage, and sense of belonging that define Parlier Unified School District.”
Around the time of the district’s announcement, Iniguez observed that Tuolumne Elementary School was the popular choice throughout the community, since it served as the school’s previous name, honors the history of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians and aligns with the street on which the school resides.
Despite the early response, the district took time to ensure that whatever school the name would take on accurately reflected the general consensus of those within the district. In the following months, the district gathered feedback from student, parent and staff committees.
Later, during a June 9 board of trustees meeting, residents had the chance to speak directly to district leaders to provide their input, and it became all but certain that Tuolumne Elementary School was the way to go.
With the matter soon to be fully settled, students and families can look forward to a new, but semi-nostalgic, era for the campus.
“We appreciate the continued partnership of our students, families, staff and community as we move forward together during this transition,” the district wrote in its statement.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this article was updated on July 8, 2026 at 10:54 a.m. pst to include comment from Parlier Unified School District Superintendent Rafael Iniguez.
