Dallas News Blog

Kathyln Gilliam's already been the subject of this 2006 documentary

Back in June, the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees voted not to name the district's Ross Ave. HQ for former school board president Kathlyn Gilliam, despite the protesters at their front door. The polarizing Gilliam, who served on the school board from 1974 till she was replaced by Ron Price in '97, actually attended the meeting during which her supporters demanded the name change; alas, said trustee Jerome Garza, maybe the district oughta name a school for Gilliam instead, maybe?

And, just maybe, everyone will get their wish. Remember how the district was asking folks to submit nominees after whom the DISD could name new schools to be constructed with 2008 bond money? Turns out, Gilliam's name was indeed among the lot: Notes District 6 trustee Carla Ranger on her blog this morning, Gilliam's name is the sole nominee for the side of the new Early College High School located on the University of North Texas's Oak Cliff Campus. Other nominees Ranger mentions this morning: the Rev. Zan Holmes for a new middle school in Oak Cliff, and Oklahoma-born historian John Hope Franklin (who died on May 25) and Pinkie Mae Gardner (described in this 2005 story as "the only surviving member of the first and only graduating class of the Wilmer-Hutchins Colored High School") for a new elementary school serving part of the Wilmer-Hutchins area.

We've asked DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander for a list of all the nominees. Because it's an honor just to be nominated, so we're told.

Update: Dahlander responds this morning: "The Board office is in the process of compiling the names and will submit them to trustees next month. The list that Ms. Ranger has posted are her recommendations for the new schools to be built in her area."