District celebrates its centennial anniversary
When Round Rock ISD was established in 1913, there was one public school building housing students of all grades. One hundred years later, the district has grown to more than 46,000 students in 33 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and six high schools.
The district is using its centennial anniversary in 2013 as a time to reflect on the challenges and changes it has experienced through the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement and district expansion.
Kathy Anthony, centennial coordinator for Round Rock ISD, is researching the district's history for the anniversary. She said the district experienced struggles achieving financial stability during World War II and the Great Depression. Despite hardships and challenges, Round Rock ISD's board of trustees maintained its dedication to children's education, she said.
"They never gave up; they just kept going," Anthony said. "I think that is an admirable quality about the people who were here then."
Until the board of trustees decided to shut down its segregated schools in compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the district had two segregated schools. In the 1800s, black students were educated in the Black Church, which was located on Chisholm Trail, according to the book "Historical Round Rock Texas." In 1922, the black student–only Hopewell School was built and operated until March 24, 1966. The school for Hispanic children rented space in a church in old town Round Rock in 1933 and closed down in 1948. There are little to no records or information on the school, Anthony said.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the district continued its cultural change. In 1957, the district elected its first female trustee, Neysa Callison. In 2008, Callison Elementary School was named in her honor, according to the district. In 1961, the district elected its first Hispanic trustee, Issac Lopez, a 1958 graduate of Round Rock High School. He served on the board from 1961–1981 and is the founder of El Amistad, a nonprofit organization that aims to highlight Hispanic cultural awareness and emphasize education in the community. In 1987, Bluebonnet Elementary School was dedicated in his honor.
Around 1970, a petition was passed to consolidate the Pond Springs school district into Round Rock ISD, Lopez said. He said generally property values were low at the time, and had it not been for the district's decision to have its properties reassessed in the 1970s, the district may have not been able to keep up with its rapid growth.
"Once we did that, it was like, 'Here comes the growth,'" Lopez said.
After the reassessment, the district grew by 1,100 students in one year, he said. According to "Historical Round Rock Texas," by the end of 1984, Round Rock ISD had 16 schools in the district and more than 13,000 students.
Anthony said after segregation ended, the educational experience changed dramatically for students.
"The big thing that I have noticed [is the] change with our children with special needs," Lopez said. "I think that is amazing. ... In the old days they wouldn't even send kids with special needs to school. They would just keep them at home or institutionalize them."
The evolution in technology, equipment and facilities have also played a part in the district's maturity. In 1957, Round Rock ISD purchased its first electric typewriter and bought its first computer in 1978.
"When I was at [C.D. Fulkes] middle school, we didn't have [weight-lifting equipment], so we would get a piece of pipe and put a gallon can on [each end] with concrete," said Steven Gonzales, Round Rock High School tennis coach.
Gonzales said he still thoroughly enjoys working for the district that first employed him in 1974.
"One of the greatest things is to be able to meet the child that you knew as a youngster as an adult and his children and family," he said.
Centennial celebration
The district plans on holding several events throughout the year in honor of its 100th anniversary. For a list of events, visit the centennial website at www1.roundrockisd.org/centennial
