Georgetown community members celebrated the grand opening of the new George Washington Carver Elementary School opening July 28. Georgetown community members celebrated the grand opening of the new George Washington Carver Elementary School opening July 28.[/caption]

Carver Elementary Gymnasium Carver Elementary Gymnasium[/caption]

Georgetown ISD officials and community members gathered July 28 to celebrate the opening of George Washington Carver Elementary School,the district's 11th elementary school campus, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The  school was the last project to be completed using 2010 bond funds, aside from the district’s fourth middle school. The cost for the project totaled about $17.7 million.

Construction on the school building began May 2014 and was completed in June. During the grand opening ceremony, Superintendent Fred Brent spoke before a cheering crowd about the school's future.

Community members wander the halls of the new George Washington Carver Elementary campus Community members wander the halls of the new George Washington Carver Elementary campus[/caption]

“This is your school," he said. "Your tax dollars paid for it, and we are grateful."

The former Carver campus served as the city’s segregated black campus until 1964, when the Westside School opened in its place. Two former teachers launched a push to return the name to George Washington Carver in the 1990s, district spokesperson Suzanne Marchman said. She said keeping the name with this new campus was meant to hold onto the heritage of the Carver name.

“It honors the legacy of the school in the community, as well as the person for which it is named,” she said.

Scott Alarcon, GISD board of trustees president, said the mural that hung in the old Carver campus has been relocated to the new building's office. Scott Alarcon, GISD board of trustees president, said the mural that hung in the old Carver campus has been relocated to the new building's office.[/caption]

The old carver campus celebrated 50 years this spring, and Marchman said for now it will be used by the Boys and Girls Club. How the building will be used in the longterm has not yet been determined, she said.

Board of trustees President Scott Alarcon said the district is honoring the former campus’ history and also looking forward to building the new school’s legacy.

“This building is going to serve us for years to come,” he said.