Some 120 guests, many of them alumni sporting their beloved school colors of Columbia blue and white, attended a recent ceremony at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School held to celebrate the news that the Oak Cliff school is receiving a multi-million-dollar facelift.
Titled the Roosevelt Relaunch, the ceremony featured a variety of speakers and student participants, including Dallas ISD officials, a Dallas City Council member, and the Dallas Fire Chief and County Sheriff, both of whom happen to be Roosevelt alums.
Principal Troy Tyson presided at the event, which opened with the presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by the Roosevelt JROTC Color Guard. Tyson welcomed the large crowd and thanked alumni for their generous support for the school. District 5 Trustee Maxie Johnson greeted guests and recognized several elected officials in attendance. Dallas ISD Chief of Human Capital Management Cynthia Wilson applauded the school’s alumni, parents and supporters for their steadfast advocacy for Roosevelt, indicating that the coming improvements will totally reshape the 56-year-old campus.
A selection by the choir, remarks by alumni president Toni Johnson and a pledge of support for the relaunched campus led by current student Ja’Nasia Bailey and alumni from six decades rounded out the program.
Demolition is already underway on the site to make way for the reconstruction, which will include a new fine arts addition, a restaurant, a library, new classrooms, a cafeteria/kitchen addition, a competition gym and interior and exterior renovations throughout the campus. The $36.1 million renovation project is scheduled for completion in November 2020.
