The names of a middle school and three elementary schools scheduled to open in the summer of 2009 will honor a civil rights hero, a Northside pioneer, a beloved District band director, and an attorney known as the “father of Texas school law.”

The Northside Board of Trustees selected the District’s newest school namesakes at the April 22 Board meeting. All four names were submitted by members of the public through the District’s online “Name a School” process.

• Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School, 14900 Kyle Seale Parkway, is named for the founder of the American GI Forum, an organization dedicated to getting Hispanic veterans equal access to educational, medical, and housing benefits. In addition, Dr. Garcia’s efforts to desegregate Texas public schools resulted in the closure of many substandard schools for Hispanic children. Dr. Garcia, who grew up in Corpus Christi, was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, making him the first Mexican American to receive the nation’s highest civilian award. (This school formerly is known as “Kyle Seale Parkway area” middle school.)

• John Hoffmann Elementary School, 12118 Volunteer Parkway, is named for the man who donated the land on which the Culebra School was built in 1927. Hoffmann personally helped maintain the school and also donated water and wood to offset operating costs. In addition, he offered his home to room and board the school’s teaching staff. Culebra School ultimately consolidated with 10 other small districts in 1949 to form Northside ISD. (This school formerly is known as “Alamo Ranch area” elementary school.)

• Charles L. Kuentz, Jr. Elementary School, 12303 Leslie Road, is named for a longtime NISD band director who worked at Hobby and Rudder middle schools and Marshall High School. Kuentz was known as a passionate, honest, hard-working educator who taught his students important life skills as well as music. Incidentially, two of his children now are band directors in Northside (at Rawlinson Middle School and Clark High School), and his grandfather is another Northside namesake: Henry T. Brauchle. (This school formerly is known as “Leslie Road area” elementary school.)

• Ralph Langley Elementary School, 600 Stevens Parkway, is named for Northside’s longtime attorney who, in 1970, was instrumental in the crafting of Texas school law, which set protocol for school districts regarding the rights of students, parents, staff members, board members, and taxpayers. Langley was a well-respected member of the community who also served as chairman of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Public Library Board. (This school is formerly known as “Stevens Ranch area #1” elementary school.)

All four schools are funded by School Bond 2007 and will help relieve overcrowding in NISD schools, which are growing by more than 3,000 students a year. Garcia Middle School, which will be built for 1,500 students, will relieve overcrowding at Jefferson, Rawlinson, and Stinson middle schools.

Attendance zone boundaries for the elementary schools have not been determined yet and will go through the approval process in the fall of 2008. All three elementary schools will be built to accommodate 800 students.