| The Douglas Academy | | | | downtown San Antonio. In 1902 it was named for |
| Current and former students, community | | | | the anti-slavery orator and statesman. The school |
| members and staff from the San Antonio | | | | was relocated as a high school to its present site |
| Schools staff gathered in the historic auditorium | | | | in 1915. It became a junior high in 1932. |
| of Douglass Academy on Sept. 26 for a | | | | Beginning in 1970 Douglass served as a school for |
| homecoming celebration and dedication ceremony | | | | grades 3 through 5. In 2002 while students |
| to mark the completion of a major construction | | | | attended the former Burnet Elementary campus |
| and renovation project at the school. | | | | on Barrera St. the school expanded to include |
| "Douglass Academy has a rich history and | | | | pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade. In 2004 6th |
| tradition. Our children here have inherited that | | | | grade was added making the school a |
| history and they have the potential to become all | | | | pre-kindergarten through 6th grade academy. |
| that they want to be," said District Superintendent | | | | Students and staff returned to their original |
| Dr. Robert J. Durón on the stage where | | | | campus when the construction project was |
| legend has it that Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday | | | | completed in August. |
| and B.B. King once performed. | | | | New School Yet to be Named |
| With $9.3 million from the San Antonio | | | | San Antonio Independent School District Trustees |
| Independent School District's 1997 Bond Program, | | | | and District leaders join students from Foster and |
| improvements at the school included renovations | | | | Schenck elementary schools in breaking ground |
| to classrooms in the three-story school built in | | | | Sept. 21 for SAISD's newest campus, which is |
| 1915, the auditorium and gymnasium. A building | | | | located in the 9200 block of South Presa Street. |
| which previously served as a vocational shop was | | | | The new academy, which is the first school |
| remodeled into a library. | | | | established by the District in 40 years, will serve |
| New construction added a wing with classrooms, | | | | the educational needs of a growing student |
| a kitchen and cafeteria to this San Antonio school. | | | | population in the Southeast sector of SAISD. |
| Two courtyards, a central tower housing an | | | | The planned two-story academyyet to be |
| elevator and a stairwell connect the old with the | | | | namedwill accommodate 750 students in |
| new for accessibility. | | | | pre-kindergarten through 8th grade at the 18-acre |
| With a total square-footage of 73,692, the facility | | | | site. The building will have an exterior design |
| accommodates 450 students including those in the | | | | reminiscent of the nearby historic missions. Early |
| Life Strides and in the Early Childhood programs. | | | | grades at this San Antonio school will have |
| Original wood flooring and seats in the auditorium | | | | elementary-level playgrounds and learning spaces |
| were carefully refurbished and re-installed in this | | | | equipped for instruction, physical education and |
| San Antonio school by the District's Plant Services | | | | music. Upper grade classrooms will include an art |
| crews. The stage and walls were also repainted. | | | | room, science labs, and two music rooms with |
| "Not only do we have new things that we are | | | | acoustical areas for band, choir, orchestra or |
| excited about but we're also honoring a lot of the | | | | mariachi. |
| history of this school," said Melanie Herr-Zepeda, | | | | Plans for the newest San Antonio school also |
| principal. | | | | include a competition gym with locker spaces for |
| Colors, tiles and wall textures throughout the | | | | girls and boys, practice fields for football/soccer, a |
| campus express the African-American and | | | | multi-purpose field, computer labs, a library and a |
| Mexican-American cultures of the neighborhood | | | | cafetorium for various school activities. Cost of |
| surrounding this San Antonio school. "This school is | | | | the construction project will be $20.6 million |
| truly rich in history. We're honoring the | | | | funded from interest earned by the District's bond |
| neighborhood in what it is now and yet honoring | | | | programs. The school will serve families in the |
| where this school has come from," Herr-Zepeda | | | | new Mission Creek subdivision and nearby |
| added. | | | | neighborhoods where students currently attend |
| Douglass Academy traces its origin to 1869 when | | | | Foster and Schenck elementary schools and |
| it opened for the children of freed | | | | Connell Middle School. |
| African-American slaves in what is now | | | | |