27 May 2011
Adelfa Botello Callejo Elementary School set to open in 2012
DALLAS — Dallas Independent School District officials, community leaders, parents and students celebrated this week at the groundbreaking of the new Adelfa Botello Callejo Elementary School.
Located at 7817 Military Parkway, the school will serve 810 pre-k through fifth-grade students, and will open in the fall of 2012 as part of Dallas ISD's $1.35 billion 2008 Bond Program.
"With this school, we are providing our students the optimum learning environment — well-lit classrooms, cutting-edge technology, spacious outdoor fields — for academic success. Furthermore, with the building's namesake, we provide inspiration and motivation for students to strive to meet their goals despite challenges," said Dallas ISD Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa.
The school is named in honor of Dallas attorney and Hispanic civil-rights activist Adelfa Botello Callejo, the first Hispanic woman to graduate from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Since then, she has been a partner at the Dallas law firm Callejo and Callejo where her career has focused on personal injury, family and criminal law.
"I made gaining an education a priority in my life. I have always believed in the power of schooling to improve my life, and I'm honored the students who attend this school will experience the same life-changing force," said Callejo.
The 97,000-square-foot, two-story elementary school will include 39 classrooms, with several specialty classrooms to support art, music, special and behavioral needs, small groups and speech, in addition to a visual arts area, two computer labs, gymnasium, food service/cafeteria areas and administrative space. The building will incorporate sustainable features in compliance with the Dallas ISD's sustainable design board policy and the City of Dallas Green Building Ordinance. These features meet or surpass standards for Texas Collaborative High Performance Schools. Plans include a geothermal heating and cooling system, heat reflective roof, water efficient plumbing and natural daylight that will collectively contribute to a 31 percent reduction in net energy usage. A wooded area shields play fields and playgrounds from neighboring developments.
Senior Executive Director of the Northeast Elementary Learning Community Lisa DeVeaux opened the celebration, followed by the flag presentation and pledge led by Frank Guzick Elementary School Leadership Pathfinders Cadet Corps. Board Trustee Nancy Bingham, representing District 4, thanked the community for its support of the bond program and said the creation of new schools matches the community's growth. Attorney and Board Trustee Edwin Flores saluted Callejo's leadership and commitment to the Dallas community and to education. Adelfa Botello Callejo shared her vision for the school, for students and our community's future.
Urban Park Elementary School Choir, led by Director Angela Livesay, performed , and the award-winning Urban Park Elementary School cheerleaders under the direction of Coach Sherqueena Myles led a cheer in honor of the occasion.
Deputy Chief of Operations Phil Jimerson reviewed the project's scope. AECOM is the project manager for the new school, Cadence McShane serves as the general contractor and HKS Inc. designed the project.