Norwalk : Nottingham School to Be Renamed for Late Activist

The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board has voted unanimously to rename Ralph Nottingham Elementary School to Arturo A. Sanchez Elementary School.

Board members said they supported the name change because Sanchez was a community activist and volunteer who cared deeply about children. Sanchez, who died in 1980, was an entertainer who often led his family in performing piano and song routines for local schools. He promoted self-esteem and urged students to take pride in their cultural heritage, officials said. He also founded Norwalk’s annual Halloween parade.

The Norwalk school was originally named in 1959 after dairyman Ralph Nottingham. District officials said they know little about the Norwalk native and former school board member. Officials believe Nottingham served on a local school board prior to 1950. The Norwalk-La Mirada unified district was formed in 1964, they said. Nottingham, who died in 1955, helped establish and support a future farmer’s club at Excelsior High School.

About 20 students and parents opposed the renaming on the grounds that it could cost money that would be better spent on school programs. Officials said they would return to the board with figures on how much the name change would cost.