On Monday night, the Austin Independent School District voted 8-1 to change the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School to Russell Lee Elementary School, replacing the well-known Confederate general with an Austin-based photographer known for his diverse pictures. Vice President Paul Saldaña voted against the motion, voicing his preference for a name that reflected AISD’s diversity. Other trustees, including District 1 Trustee Edmund Gordon, voiced their opinion that the school should be named after Bettie Man, the first African-American teacher at Lee Elementary. However, they chose to vote in accordance with board precedent to honor the wishes of District 5’s Amber Elenz, who represents Lee Elementary.
AISD renames Lee Elementary
