The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved renaming three schools with namesakes tied to the Confederacy.
The new school names are:
- John Ireland Elementary School will become Sylvia Mendez Collaborative Relationships Through Expeditionary Work (CREW) Leadership Academy. Mendez is a civil rights activist who played a significant role in the landmark desegregation case of 1946.
- Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard will become the Jesus Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard. Moroles was a former Dallas ISD student who became a renowned Texas artist known for his large-scale granite sculptures.
- John H. Reagan Elementary School will become the Bishop Arts STEAM Academy.
Meanwhile, trustees at the March 25 board meeting also unanimously approved a board policy amendment that will allow people who are not United States citizens to serve on district advisory committees. These non-paying committees help guide trustees on important issues such as the bond, racial equity, special education, and attendance boundaries
Trustee Dan Micciche said the board policy amendment sends a strong message of inclusion to a city where estimates show that potentially 25 percent of residents are non-citizens.
“This proposed change is consistent with our commitment to diversity equity and inclusion,” Micciche said.
