Santa Maria-Bonita picks new school's name

The newest school on the Santa Maria-Bonita School District block will no longer be known as “School No. 20.” The district’s school board voted on April 14 to officially name it Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jiménez Elementary School, after two local men who grew up attending school in the district.

“Naming the new school after Robert Jiménez would render honor and homage to the following: district parents, immigrant families, and classified employees,” wrote Arthur Delgadillo in a letter nominating the name for the new school.

The Jiménez family was made up of migrant farmworkers who eventually settled in Santa Maria, where the two brothers attended Main Street School, Fairlawn Elementary, El Camino Junior High, and Santa Maria High, according to district spokesperson Maggie White.

Roberto was the oldest brother in the family, and he went to work early to support his family and siblings, starting a job as a night custodian at Main Street School in 1957 while he was still a high school student. He worked for the district for 40 years, eventually becoming Santa Maria-Bonita’s purchasing supervisor. Two of his children are currently teachers in the district. He passed away in 2014.

Francisco is the author of The Circuit, Breaking Through, and Reaching Out, and he’s well known for his award-winning books about his family’s struggles as Mexican immigrants working in the California fields. His biographical stories are required reading in many schools, according to White. He’s also written other books in English and Spanish, including the children’s book La Mariposa. Francisco is currently a professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Santa Clara University.

The school will open its doors to students on Aug. 11

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