(August 29, 2024) The Rochester City School District proudly celebrated a significant milestone this week with the official renaming of Dr. Louis A. Cerulli School No. 34. The school will now be named in honor of the remarkable Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
In February 2024, the Rochester Board of Education voted to name/re-name seven of its schools for the 2024 -25 school year, as the District begins implementation of a comprehensive school reconfiguration plan. The decision reflects the District’s ongoing efforts to remove the names of slaveowners and segregationists.
A prominent journalist, activist, and researcher in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ida B. Wells-Barnett spearheaded a vigorous campaign against lynching in the United States. She embraced the women’s club movement throughout her lifetime, urging women to participate in clubs where they could take charge and wield influence.
The renaming of School No. 34 to honor Wells-Barnett pays tribute to her significant contributions to civil rights and education. Principal Akilah Collins expressed her pride in the renaming. “It is an honor for our school to be named after the late Mrs. Ida B. Wells-Barnett," said Collins. "She accomplished so much in her lifetime as a prolific writer and Civil Rights activist. She was dedicated to education, equal rights, and equity.”
The District will celebrate similar ribbon cuttings this school year as it will open four new middle schools and one new high school on September 5, 2024.
