McFarland To Rename Elvejehm Elementary

McFARLAND, Wis. (WMDX) – A local district is changing the name of a school. 

McFarland’s Conrad Elvejehm Primary School will get a new name. Its original namesake, Conrad Elvejehm, was a UW-Madison professor and the university’s thirteenth president. He was born in McFarland.

He made scientific discoveries that saved lives, specifically the use of niacin to prevent people from developing pellagra. 

According to a report given to the McFarland School Board, Elvejehm also signed a petition to keep Black people from living in his neighborhood. He also blocked a film about racial discrimination toward renters from being shown, according to reporting from the Wisconsin State Journal. 

This change has been in the works for years. Concern over the name was first brought up by a student two years ago. 

“I would never want any students, staff, parents to feel that they weren’t welcome and accepted in a school due to the name of the school itself,” said McFarland school board member Megan Chatman. “Also, if we look at all the other schools in McFarland, this is the only school that is named after someone.” 

The McFarland School Board voted Monday to rename the school. Now, they’ll start the process to begin choosing a new moniker. 

The Madison Metropolitan School District has its own Elvejehm Elementary. It’s also slated to be renamed. A neighborhood in Madison is named after Elvejehm.