Tyler School Board and Call for a School Name Change

TYLER – A proposed name change for Tyler’s Robert E Lee High School is expected to come up at tonight’s school board meeting. The White Nationalist rally in Charlottesville has sparked renewed attention to Confederate monuments and memorials across the country. Some Tyler ISD parents want to change the name of the school. DG Montalvo, who is behind the movement wanting change, told KETK, there is a lot of racial tension still in the city. Another parent who, would like to see the name changed, said Robert E. Lee himself was not a fan of statues honoring Civil War Generals. An online petition to keep the name of the school showed over 9,000 signatures. Supporters for a name change are planning to raise the issue at the school board meeting Monday evening at 7:00 at the Davidson Conference Room at the Jim Plyler instructional Complex located at 807 West Glenwood Boulevard.

Late last week, The Tyler ISD released this statement: “The Tyler ISD administration and board of trustees continuously stay aware of national concerns and their impact locally,” Parnell said. “If an issue appropriately rises for board consideration, collaboration between the Tyler ISD board of trustees and various leaders throughout Tyler, Texas, will occur, with logistical assistance from Tyler ISD administration, while in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Tyler ISD policy and board operating practices.”