Community Calls on Edinburg School Board to Act on Robert E. Lee Elementary Renaming
Arnoldo Mata
EDINBURG TX – Nearly five years after the Edinburg school board voted to move forward with renaming Robert E. Lee Elementary, residents are once again urging trustees to take action—this time during a packed public comment session that drew more than a dozen speakers.
The calls come amid growing frustration over the district’s inaction since the board initially supported the renaming process in 2020. At the time, a group of local activists pushed for the change, citing the school’s connection to the Confederate general and the message it sends to students. In August 2020, their efforts led the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District (ECISD) board to vote in favor of renaming the campus.
A timeline was set: name submissions would close on September 3, 2020, followed by board deliberation and the selection of a new name. But in the weeks that followed, the board abruptly sidelined the process and stopped responding to questions about next steps. The proposed timeline was ultimately abandoned.
“This is our chance to make it right—to choose a name that reflects our community’s strength, resilience, and values,” said Maria Hernandez, a first-generation college graduate and Edinburg native. “A name that tells students: you are seen, you matter, and you belong here.”
Multiple speakers emphasized that the school’s namesake, Robert E. Lee, led the Confederate Army during the Civil War and fought to preserve slavery. Some pointed to the school’s naming in the 1950s as part of a broader backlash against the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation.
Others expressed concern about the board’s failure to follow through on its 2020 commitment, noting that more than 300 emails had been sent in support of the renaming effort.
“In 2020, the board voted to be on the right side of history,” said Margarita Gonzalez, one of the first speakers of the evening. “But with five years of inaction, you’ve broken that promise.”
One resident, Jacob Bero, shared how the school’s name personally affected him and his family. “My mother went to that school. My godson lives nearby. I don’t want him to attend a school named after someone who would’ve viewed him as inferior,” he said. “That name belongs in history books, not on our schools.”
The board did not take action on the issue during the meeting since the item was not specifically an agenda item, but community members made clear they intend to keep the pressure on.
Source — Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District.