Parents Want School Named for Volunteer

A group of Oxnard parents have told the elementary school board that they want the district’s next new school to be named for Matilde Rodriguez, a Latina parent and tireless volunteer whose six children attended Oxnard schools.

Dorina Zamudio told the board Wednesday that the new school, scheduled to be built near La Colonia in the next four years, should be named for Rodriguez, who died of cancer in 1981.

Zamudio said Rodriguez, a widow who raised six children in the district, was a tireless contributor to the school district and an outstanding role model for Oxnard’s Latino community.

Although she worked in the strawberry fields and did not own a car, she was an officer in the Parent Teacher Assns. at six Oxnard schools.

She also volunteered for the district as a teacher’s aide, Zamudio said.

“One could list all the things Matilde did, but it doesn’t seem to be enough,” Zamudio said. “She spoke about how PTA was a parent’s way to be heard and that they needed to speak out for what they wanted and believed in for their children. There was no excuse for being silent.” Board members did not discuss the matter but, after the meeting, board President Mary Baretto said she supported the proposal.

“She made such an impact on the Hispanic community, I thought it was a great suggestion,” Baretto said.

Supt. Norman Brekke said he agreed that Rodriguez’s would be a suitable name for the new school, but that other names are likely to be considered.

Rodriguez’s name was submitted on behalf of Padres Unidos, an advocacy group for Latino parents in Oxnard.