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