AISD renames Lee Elementary
Wednesday, May 25, 2016 by Courtney Griffin
On Monday night, the Austin Independent School District voted 8-1 to change the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School to Russell Lee Elementary School, replacing the well-known Confederate general with an Austin-based photographer known for his diverse pictures. Vice President Paul Saldaña voted against the motion, voicing his preference for a name that reflected AISD’s diversity. Other trustees, including District 1 Trustee Edmund Gordon, voiced their opinion that the school should be named after Bettie Man, the first African-American teacher at Lee Elementary. However, they chose to vote in accordance with board precedent to honor the wishes of District 5’s Amber Elenz, who represents Lee Elementary.
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