|
Pasadena ISD's fifth high school and two new
fifth grade centers now have an identity thanks to the Board of
Trustees who poured through 74 suggested names from more than
200 total nominations.
The district's fifth high school has been
named the Pasadena Memorial High School. The fifth grade campus
to be built on the site of the old Jackson Intermediate School
will be called the Lorenzo De Zavala Fifth Grade Center. The
fifth grade campus in the South Belt area has been named the
Kathleen Morris Fifth Grade Center.
Pasadena Memorial High School was named to
honor all the former and present educators and staff of the
Pasadena Independent School District. Carmen Orozco, chair of
the Board selection committee said, "So many people
throughout the years have contributed so much to the children of
our community," she said. "Together, they each
contributed to our past successes and to our current success as
a three-time Texas Recognized District. We wanted the name of
our new school to reflect our gratitude to everyone who has ever
worked for Pasadena ISD."
The board also recently approve the school's
new logo as the Mavericks.
Kathleen Morris, a long-time resident of
Pasadena and a former teacher at Pasadena High School and San
Jacinto College, has been instrumental over the years in gaining
public support for the school system. |
|
Connections is a quarterly publication for
former students of the Pasadena Independent School District.
Suggestions for articles, letters to the editor and other
comments are welcomed. Mail should be addressed to Mark Kramer,
editor, Pasadena ISD Administration Building, 1515 Cherrybrook,
Pasadena, Texas 77502. Letters should include the writer's full
name, address, and daytime telephone number.
Board of Directors
Herman Williams
Louie Ditta
Deana Vickrey
Don Dickerson
Genia Ripley |
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Director |
|
|
An ardent supporter and HOSTS
mentor before her death in 1999, Morris was actively involved in
past bond issues to help provide the funds for necessary
buildings and classrooms.
| Zavala served
as the first vice-president of the Republic of Texas
after a long and distinguished career as a statesman,
ambassador for Mexico. His belief in democracy ran
counter to the dictatorial direction of Mexican
President Santa Anna. |
"We
wanted
the name
of our
new (high) school to reflect our gratitude to
everyone
who has ever worked for Pasadena ISD." |
Zavala was a signer of the Texas Declaration
of Independence, a member of Texas' Consultation and helped
draft the Texas Constitution in 1836.
Officials expect the South Belt fifth grade
center to open in fall 2003, along with the fifth high school.
The north Pasadena fifth grade center is scheduled to open in
fall 2002.
Funds for the construction of the schools were
part of a $199.05 bond issue approved by voters in an
overwhelming 8-1 margin last February.
The fifth high school, estimated at a cost of
$45.5 million, would open with 750 incoming freshman and
sophomore students and releive overcrowding woes at Rayburn and
South Houston.
Voter approval of the bond issue is enabling the district to
convert Beverly Hills Intermediate into a fifth grade center and
build a new fifth grade center on the old Jackson Intermediate
site.
The South Belt area fifth grade center would
draw students from the area's elementary school campuses,
freeing classroom space for additional enrollment expected in
the future. Renovations to Beverly Hills during that conversion
would include new restrooms, carpet and a new roof, estimated at
$500,000. As part of the bond, the intermediate school would
move into the current Dobie High School after students from the
high school move into the new Dobie campus on Blackhawk. |
|