New school named Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary

Special to the NEWS

new elementary pic

Shown is a rendering of Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary School, currently under construction off FM 732 in San Benito. (File image)

After Naming Selection Committee members held a public hearing Monday, Jan. 10 inside the John F. Barron Administration Building regarding the slate of names for the new San Benito CISD elementary school currently under construction on FM 732, and following a 5-2 vote by the district’s school board, Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary was selected.

Voting in favor of the naming were trustees Oscar Medrano, board president, Oscar De La Fuente, Bob Tumberlinson, Manuel “Meme” Gonzales, and Joe G. Gonzalez. Opposing votes were made by Hector Leal and Yliana G. Rodriguez.

Part of the 2008 voter-approved bond election, the new $8.7 million elementary campus is expected to have solar panels, and its “green” design will make it a model campus in the Rio Grande Valley. San Benito CISD officials expect the school to be completed by the fall of 2011.

As per policy CW Local, two board members, including Vice-President Bob Tumberlinson and Oscar De La Fuente Jr., served on the committee. In addition to the two board members, community members serving on the committee include Rene Garcia, Eddie Gonzales, Lupita Gonzalez, Anna Llanes, Mario Maya, Jaime Rios, Mary Lou Saldaña, Vicente Tamez Jr. and Sandra Tumberlinson.

Committee members selected Llanes to serve as the group’s spokesperson. On Monday, Dec. 13, committee members met after having had an opportunity to thoroughly review nominations being considered for the naming of the new elementary school. A total of 13 names were submitted for consideration.

After careful review of the applications, 10 out of the 11 committee members in attendance voted by secret ballot. A tally was done in the presence of the committee to determine the slate of names. The following three nominations resulted as the committee’s top three choices for the new elementary school. They included the following:

• Antolina Avila Balboa Elementary

• Dr. Anita H. Garcia Elementary

• Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary

The guidelines for naming new facilities, according to CW policy, included the following:

• Facilities may be named for persons who have served the district or community, especially in service to children;

• Facilities may be named for any local, state, or national heroic figure;

• A nominee shall have made a significant contribution to society and/or education, and his or her name shall lend prestige and status to an institution of learning; and

• Facilities may be named for local residential or geographic areas or state or national landmarks.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Jan. 16 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition when available by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2011/01/12/new-school-named-angela-gerusa-leal-elementary/

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