4 Oct 2005
Ceremony Honors U.S. Legislator and Voting Rights Advocate
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District officials broke ground today for the new Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School at 6610 Lake June Road.
Students, principals and the Gonzalez family joined Trustee Nancy Bingham in honoring Gonzalez. As the first Mexican-American elected from Texas to the U.S. House of Representatives, Gonzalez was a distinguished public servant and voting rights advocate for more than three decades. He received the Profile in Courage award in 1994 from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
"Gonzalez blazed the trail for other Hispanics in this country by courageously fighting against the status quo," said Bingham. "His style was to be a servant of the people and his passion was helping others. That's the kind of example we want for children attending this school."
Gonzalez family members present included his wife of 60 years, Bertha C. Gonzalez, and son, U.S. Representative Charles A. Gonzalez, 20th Congressional District-Texas, who spoke of the family's appreciation for the honor. "Dad fought hard all his life to make our country and our state fairer places. He battled to open the door to educational opportunities so that children of all backgrounds could have the same chances to make the most of their talents," said Congressman Gonzalez. "This school represents another victory he and countless others worked toward."
The elementary school, scheduled to open in August 2006, is a 90,000-square-foot building and will have 41 classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen and auditorium. Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School will receive students from John Quincy Adams, Nathaniel Hawthorne and John Ireland elementary schools. Corgan Associates designed the school, Austin Commercial is the program manager and Turner Construction is the builder.
In January 2002, DISD passed the largest education bond program in the history of Texas. The $1.37 billion program is funding 21 new schools, almost 60 additions that include early childhood additions to present schools, and renovations to nearly every campus in the district. Contractors are working on more than 140 school facilities, including new schools, additions to schools, and renovations to schools. For more information on the bond program, go to www.dallasisd.org/bond.
Additional bond program ceremonies scheduled for this fall are:
Groundbreakings:
Tuesday, Oct. 18 Celestino Mauricio Soto Jr. Elementary School,
4510 West Jefferson Blvd.
Tuesday, Nov. 15 Frank Guzick Elementary School, 5000 Berridge Lane
Dedications:
Sunday, Oct. 9 Lee A. McShan Jr. Elementary School, 8307 Meadow Road
Sunday, Oct. 16 Rosemont Primary School- Chris V. Semos Campus,
1919 Stevens Forest Drive
Ribbon-Cuttings:
Sunday, Nov. 6 K.B. Polk Elementary School (wing), 6911 Victoria Ave.