Forum to fight renaming of Madison School

Terry Webster

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000 | 9:56 a.m.

A battle surrounding the renaming of Madison Elementary School continues tonight with a community forum held by WAAK UP (Westside Action Alliance Korps -- Uplifting People).

The Clark County School Board has already voted to rename Madison Elementary School, 1030 J St. at Madison Avenue, after Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas.

But Marzette Lewis, president of WAAK-UP, is attempting to block the move, saying Williams has been ordered to pay more than $50,000 in back child support. Lewis says the assemblyman is not a role model for the children or the community.

In a Jan. 18 letter to Williams, Lewis asked him to not allow his name to be placed on Madison. She has spoken -- vehemently -- at School Board meetings and has asked the board to rescind its motion on renaming the school after Williams.

Lewis has extended invitations to Williams and School Board members to attend a forum tonight at 7 p.m. at Madison. School Board member Shirley Barber, who represents District C where Madison is located, said she is not planning to attend.

Barber said she is standing by the School Board's decision and that Williams, the Assembly Education Committee chairman, has been a staunch supporter of education.

Williams could not be reached for comment.

"She has done a lot of great things for schools," Barber said of Lewis. "And that is appreciated. But she has really got the community stirred up on this one."

Madison, which is being rebuilt under a state pilot program, is scheduled to be completed in August 2002.