Morgan Hill Unified School District’s campus at 85 Tilton Ave. – formerly Burnett Elementary School before closing in the summer of 2009 and currently housing Central Continuation High School – has a new facility name.
The northwest Morgan Hill property will now be known as the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center, after a tight 4-3 vote by the Board of Education during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Board President Don Moody, along with trustees Claudia Rossi, Ron Woolf and Bob Benevento, all voted in favor of the namesake: a 45-year veteran MHUSD educator, volunteer and community activist who passed away in March.
“This is a tougher decision than I had anticipated, but I feel very strongly and I will support the naming of this property as the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center,” proclaimed Moody, a friend of Johnson’s who also worked closely with her on the Live Oak Foundation Board of Directors. “This woman set a very high standard for herself…and, by having her name associated with this property, we will always remember her and we will be able to look at that name as an example to follow in the future.”
Board Vice President Shelle Thomas, as well as trustees Amy Porter-Jensen and Rick Badillo, all shared in the idea of naming the site Madrone Learning Center. However, the initial roll call vote for that namesake – dedicated to the surrounding area of the school – did not receive majority support from the seven-member board.
“This is really harder than I thought it was going to be,” said Thomas before making her bid for Madrone because she felt it was “more encompassing” to Morgan Hill. “When push comes to shove for me, I like all three.”
The third finalist of 44 names submitted for the new facility name presented to the board by the Citizens Advisory Committee was the Amah-Mutsun Learning Center, honoring the indigenous people of the Morgan Hill area.
Tribal Chairman Valentin Lopez for the Amah-Mutsun Tribal Band of Costanoan/Ohlone Indians had previously come before the Board, requesting a name change from the original Peter Hardeman Burnett namesake, classifying California’s first governor as a racist and bigot.
The Board previously instructed the Interim Superintendent Steve Betando to form the Citizens Advisory Committee to come up with three finalists. The five-member committee consisted of: Barbara Neal, former principal of Burnett Elementary School and current staff member; Che Hammond, resident of the Tilton Avenue neighborhood near the school; Christina Gonzalez, Central High student; Roger Beaulieu, surrounding area resident and former Burnett teacher; and Kathy Sullivan, Morgan Hill Historical Society board member.
“I think all three (names) are very fitting,” said Sullivan as she addressed the Board, underlining the “tough” choice.
