Abilene ISD approves new names for 3 schools currently named after Confederate leaders

ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene ISD school board approved new names for three elementary schools currently named after Confederate leaders.

During Thursday's meeting, the board voted 6-1 to rename Lee Elementary School after Robert and Sammye Stafford.

AISD said the Staffords were education pioneers to African American families in Abilene.

The board also voted 6-1 to rename Johnston Elementary School after Eugene Purcell.

Purcell was a longtime AISD teacher and administrator.

The board voted 6-1 to rename Jackson Elementary School after Dr. Jose Alcorta Sr., a longtime Abilene educator.

All three names will go into effect for the 2021-22 school year.

The discussion to rename the schools began in June with a petition.

In September, the Abilene ISD Board of Trustees voted to move forward with the renaming process.