8 Dec 2008
Celebration Honors Civil and Equal Rights Activist
DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District officials were joined by community leaders, parents, students and elected officials Saturday, December 6, for the dedication ceremony of Francisco F. "Pancho" Medrano Middle School, 9815 Brockbank Drive.
Medrano Middle School is the fourth middle school and the last of the 20 new schools opened as part of the 2002 bond program. Located in northwest Dallas, the school bears the name of Francisco F. "Pancho" Medrano, who advocated and marched for worker's rights alongside César Chávez and with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. A product of Dallas schools until eighth grade, Medrano was a World War II veteran who continued to serve others upon his return from duty. He helped fight discrimination and unfair treatment of minorities in Dallas and throughout the country. As a result of a 1974 Supreme Court ruling in his favor, Medrano was instrumental in the process that helped overturn laws barring mass demonstrations–a victory for free speech and peaceful assembly.
The new school honors "Pancho" Medrano's interest in the environment; the three-story 179,000-square-foot building is the first Dallas ISD school to use a geothermal heat pump system for its heating and cooling, which will reduce energy costs by more than 30 percent. Medrano Middle School accommodates 1,200 students and includes 39 regular and special education classrooms, a media center, space for performing and visual arts, and a 450-seat auditorium. The school receives students from David G. Burnet, Tom W. Field, and Julian T. Saldivar elementary schools.
Medrano Ballet Folklorico, choir, band and cheerleaders showcased student performers.. Anthony and Sarah Garcia, a mariachi duet, and the Thomas Jefferson High School JROTC participated in the festivities. Robin Ryan, executive director of the West Secondary Learning Community, opened the dedication and thanked Dallas voters for making the new facility possible. State Representative Yvonne Davis presented a proclamation from the Texas Legislature at the event, which was attended by Mayor Tom Leppert and Dallas City Council members, as well as other elected officials.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa offered remarks praising the accomplishments of the man for whom the building was named. Dallas ISD Trustee and Board Secretary Adam Medrano thanked the many people that attended the ceremony and hailed Medrano Middle School as a great example of Dallas ISD's interest in offering Dallas students the best education possible in a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly facility.
A tribute to Francisco "Pancho" Medrano provided by Bob Ray Sanders, vice president of the Fort Worth-Star Telegram, was followed by comments from "Sissy" Farenthal, one of the first women to run for Texas Governor. Five of the Medrano great-grandchildren offered special memories to commemorate the event, and art students presented the Medrano family with a painting.
Medrano Middle School offers students the opportunity to express their creativity and discover careers in science, business, and technology in the school's specialized classrooms, which include nine science labs, two art rooms, two music rooms, two instructional technology classrooms, two computer labs, a dance studio, a synergistic lab, and a media center.
Medrano Instructional Tours each month give parents and community members opportunities to see teaching and learning in action.
Built using recycled and local construction materials and resources, the school's green features include water-efficient landscaping; low-flow sinks and lavatories; occupancy sensors to control lighting and conserve energy; and paints, flooring, and ceilings that limit the emission of harmful chemicals.