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Saturday, July 4, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 35
Waltrip Ram Band D.C. bound with help from HISD By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
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Members of the Waltrip High School Ram Band will be officially DC bound this weekend after the HISD Board of Trustees approved a major grant to cover the costs of their journey to the nation’s capitol. Jesse Espinosa, band director at Waltrip High School, said the group received a $110,000 donation on behalf of HISD School Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Board Member Anna Eastman among others. The money is instrumental in helping the group travel and perform Contributed Photo at the National Independence The Waltrip High School Ram Band had cause for celebration last week after finding out HISD will be funding the rest of the money for their Day Parade in Washington trip to Washington D.C. for the National Independence Day Parade. D.C. The Ram Band will be the sole high school band from Frank Black Middle School, shocked,” Espinosa said about the band’s remaining balance dedicated parents and memwhere students have been the band members. “They to allow each member to travel bers of the community, the Texas performing July 4. Espinosa said WHS prin- holding drills while construc- were jumping up and down for the holiday. The group had group had raised a little over cipal Dale Mitchell informed tion at Waltrip High School and there were plenty of tears to raise around $180,000 for $70,000 by June 25. and hugs.” the band to travel across the students about the donation continues. See Waltrip, P. 2A “They were beyond The $110,000 helps cover country and, with the help of during student practice at
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Leader owner acquires new company
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
The owners of The Leader, as well as numerous investors, announced they have acquired four community newspapers based in North Carolina. The newspapers, all located south of Charlotte, N.C., include the South Charlotte Weekly, the Union County Weekly, the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly and the Pineville Pilot.
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Photo by Jonathan Garris Recent debates of the usage of symbols and names of the Confederate States of America have rekindled talks among HISD officials to rename several Houston-area schools including our area’s own Reagan High School, named after John H. Reagan (right).
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Trial by Facebook The recent controversey over the shooting of a dog in the Garden Oaks area ignited a firestorm online among local residents. Editor Jonathan Garris weighs in on the issues surrounding no-win situations and what it means to be tried in the “Court of Facebook.”
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Harvard school principal says he will retire
HISD to consider changing name of Reagan High School By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com What’s in a name? HISD officials are asking that very question of a number of Houston-area schools, including The Leader-area’s own Reagan High School in light of the recent attention given to the Confederate flag and its symbols across the nation. The school is named after John H. Reagan, postmaster general for the Confederate States of American during the civil war. HISD Board Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones said the idea of changing the name of the school had first been introduced last year during similar discussions about changing mascots and symbols at other schools. The recent shooting in Charleston, SC, and the subsequent fallout regarding symbols and names of the Confederacy and their place in modern America has renewed talks among board
members about changing names. Other schools with potential name changes would be Jackson and Johnston middle schools and Lee High School. Skillern-Jones said the move would be unprecedented. Fellow trustuess, including Superintendent Terry Grier, have voiced their support for considering name changes, as well. “This would be the first time high schools would be renamed by a prior association to something deemed offensive to constituents,” Skillern-Jones said. The board has a process in place for how to rename schools and suggestions for naming schools have often come organically from the community, Skillern-Jones said. This would be one of the first times the initiative would be carried out strictly through the board. “Because of that, we’re going to be having discussions of See Reagan, P. 4A
Another Leader-area principal is saying goodbye to his elementary school. Harvard Elementary School’s Kevin Beringer announced his retirement in a press release. Beringer’s last official day as principal will be July 31. A public school educator for 38 years, Beringer served at Harvard for the past 11 years and as an elementary principal in HISD for almost 30 years. “I am leaving Harvard in great shape and our supportive families and staff members have certainly been a part of the success,” he said. “I want my legacy to be the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.” The Leader interviewed Beringer in 2012 about his school’s move to IB. He said then that there was initially trepidation from some parents because there is no separation of children in IB because of their Vanguard test scores; however the concerns were See Harvard, P. 5A
Contributed Photo Kevin Beringer announced his retirement from Harvard Elementary School.
American Legion Post to host July 4th celebration By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader Sitting quietly at 3720 Alba Rd. on the edge of Garden Oaks, is a humble gray building where locals will find as one the community’s most vital collection of citizens: American Legion Post 560. The post has been contributing to life in the area since 1946, and is showing no signs of slowing down. “In fact, we’re adding lots of events that will be open to the public,” Post 560’s newest Commander, Richard Voorhies, said. Voorhies, a Vietnam veteran, is dedicating himself to ratcheting up the outreach of the post into the local community. “We are also adding some events for children: a back-toschool festival in August, and a ‘safe Haven event’ for Halloween. We are looking to host
an event for the public and families at least once a week this coming year.” Children have always been on the minds these veterans. In 1947, Post 560 launched an ambitious plan to acquire five acres of land at Golf Drive. and Judiway Drive (then called Old Wakefield Road) for the purpose of developing a playground. Post members constructed a pavilion, laid out a ball diamond, a volleyball court and installed playground equipment. The dedicated vets managed to raise $10,000 with which to finance their vision. Today, we know it as American Legion Park and it is busting with activity every day of the week. The mission of the American Legion itself is to act as a mutual-aid and social organization for vets. It was founded in 1919 by See Legion, P. 4A
Photo by Kim Hogstrom (From left to right) American Legion Post 560’s new Commander, Richard Voorhies; 1st Vice Commander, Robert Chavez; 2nd Vice Commander, Charles Powers; and Judge Advocate, Bryan Coleman after being sworn in as new officers.
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