10/30/2026
Superintendent's Message for October 30, 2026 (Spanish & Mandarin translations link included)
Dear New Haven Families,
Another important step in the renaming process for Cesar Chavez Middle School took place earlier this week, when our Board of Education held a special meeting to hear from community members. Many people attended, and 70 shared their perspectives with the Board.
Renaming a school is an uncommon opportunity, and it is understandable that people have strong opinions and feelings about the school’s future name. However, this led to verbal exchanges among audience members that fell short of our district’s commitment to creating a place where everyone belongs and treating one another with dignity and respect. In the NHUSD, we value the diversity present in our community and welcome varying perspectives from all.
Amid these difficult moments, several voices brought the conversation back to what should unite us: choosing a name that brings our community together and honors and supports our students. These common goals will continue to guide us as we move forward in the renaming process.
Next, the Facility Names Committee will continue its work and narrow the list of over 400 suggested names to three names honoring individuals and three names with geographical significance. The committee will continue this work next week. More information on this process can be found on our website here.
https://mynhusd.org/school-board/renaming-of-cesar-chavez-middle-school/
November is Native American Heritage Month, which celebrates the history, contributions, and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples in our region and across the country. Our schools are located on the ancestral lands of the Ohlone-Checheno people, and this month provides an opportunity to recognize their enduring legacy and reflect on their contributions to our region.
Throughout the month, our schools are encouraged to offer learning experiences that honor Indigenous voices, traditions, and stories, helping students better understand our shared history and the diverse cultures that enrich our community.
At its October meeting, our Board of Education passed a resolution commemorating Native American Heritage Month. You can read the resolution here.
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=36031910&AID=1746984&MID=78991
On Wednesday, we received verification of what appeared to be an immigration enforcement action in Union City. We don’t know the specifics, but we do know it wasn’t near any of our schools. This incident is a good opportunity to review the support materials the district provides. All our school sites and offices have immigration enforcement and safe schools information, and we have a central hub on our website that you can access here.
https://mynhusd.org/families/immigration-enforcement-safe-schools/
That’s it for this week. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
John Thompson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Spanish and Mandarin translations can be found here: https://mynhusd.org/newsroom/
