Ina May Zeiders stands as attendees applaud during the Nov. 10 MUSD Board meeting. (Photo courtesy of Devina Ortega Castro/MUSD)
The Menifee Union School District is honoring a longtime employee and Menifee resident by naming its district warehouse after Ina May Zeiders, who spent approximately 30 years working in nutrition services.
The Board of Education approved the name Ina May Zeiders District Services Center during Tuesday’s meeting, following a recommendation from a 10-member naming committee.
The warehouse, located south of Scott Road, houses several district departments, including nutrition services. Committee members felt the name District Services Center reflected the work being done at the facility to support local schools.
Former Menifee mayor Bill Zimmerman, speaking on behalf of the Menifee Valley Historical Association, shared some of Zeiders’ family history and her longtime connection to the community.
“She’s kind of the matriarch of our city today,” Zimmerman said.
Zeiders moved to California when she was 9 years old, following her older brother, Chester Morrison, who came to Menifee during the Great Depression. Morrison would later have Chester W. Morrison Elementary School named after him.
Zimmerman said the historical association supported the naming recommendation, particularly because of Zeiders’ decades of service to the district.
“This is something we hope that the board would consider and would approve,” he said.
Zeiders attended the meeting with members of her family and thanked the board for the recognition.
“Thank you, I’m deeply honored,” she said.
Board members also expressed their support.
“I don’t think we could have made a better choice,” board member Bob O’Donnell said. “We’re just so happy that this is happening today for you and your family to be able to see this legacy that you had throughout the district.”
The board later approved the naming recommendation without opposition.
