On March 30, 2016, Esmeralda Franco Ruiz, a freshman here at Sierra Linda sent a revolutionary email to the President of the Board of Governors of the Tolleson High School District. The email referred to the fact that the District of Tolleson does not classify Cesar Chavez Day to be a holiday, therefore, does not give the day off. However, the Phoenix School District does give the day off, which causes conflicts of injustice. In Esmeralda’s opinion, it would only be fair to have the day off on Cesar Chavez Day just like schools do for Martin Luther King Day.

Step one of the problem was taken care of, but the next step required Esmeralda to go above and beyond with the help of Sierra Linda students and administration, alongside MECHA club. The goal was to receive 600 signatures in two weeks that supported the cause. Altogether, a total of 800 signatures were received. With 800 signatures in hand, Esmeralda now has to assist in the Tolleson School District Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, May 10.

Esmeralda is a freshman who is in Mrs. Agueda Del Rincón’s Spanish class. She was motivated by her teacher after expressing the issue and having her encourage change so the problem of not having Cesar Chavez Day off is known.

Esmeralda Franco Ruiz

Photo Courtesy of Larry Ross

To get the full details, Dawg Pound News had a few questions for Esmeralda:

Q: What motivated you to send an email to the Board of Governors of the Tolleson High School  District?

I wanted to speak to someone that could help make the change for us to have Cesar Chavez day off.

Q: What was their response?

The response was that they are willing to help make a change and work towards a solution to solve the problem.

Q: Did their response surprise you?

Yes, because I thought they would not respond back.

Q: In what way did your friends help you at school?

They helped me by finding students who would sign the petition in two weeks.

Q: How many signatures were needed for the petition?

600 signatures.

Q: How many signatures were received in total?

800 signatures.

Q: What is the next step?

I was invited to attend the Tolleson School District Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, May 10. 

Esmeralda and friends gathering signatures during lunch time

Students taking action at the signing tables!