Lee Elementary School of Technology/World Studies on Columbus Avenue in Tampa, Florida
Lee Elementary School of Technology/World Studies in Tampa, Florida

Lee Elementary School of Technology/ World Studies was a historic elementary school in Tampa, Florida. It was established as Michigan Avenue Grammar School in 1906.[1] It became Robert E. Lee Elementary School in 1943 when Michigan Avenue was renamed Columbus Drive (Tampa).[2] The school was located at 305 East Columbus Drive and was the first brick school building constructed in Hillsborough County, Florida.[3] In 2004, it became Lee Elementary School of Technology/World Studies. The school's colors are royal blue and gold and its mascot is Robert E. Lee's horse Traveller.[2]

The school was renovated in 1989 and won a local historic preservation award. It reopened as Lee Elementary School, the first magnet school in Hillsborough County. In 2005, it became Lee Elementary School of Technology/World Studies with its curriculum expanded to include a world studies.[1]

In July, 2015, children spoke before the district school board, asking that the school's name be change because it was offensive. Hillsborough County School District Board members did not discuss the issue.[4] Amid ongoing controversy, in June, 2017, board member Tamara Shamburger asked the board to consider the name change while a man wearing a Confederate uniform stood silently observing the meeting.[5][6][7]

On September 12, 2017, the school caught fire shortly after power was restored to the area. The school had been closed, along with all other schools in Hillsborough County, due to Hurricane Irma. The flames began in the central section of the building on the second floor and spread quickly. It is unclear as to what caused the fire, but because the power had been out in the area following Hurricane Irma, it is possible that the fire began due to electrical issues that were previously undetected and not due to arson. At this point, the building appears to be a total loss.[8] Students, faculty, and staff will spend the remainder of the 2017/18 school year and all of the 2018/19 school year on the campus of nearby Lockhart Elementary Magnet School.[9]

On October 16, 2018, the Hillsborough County School Board voted unanimously to have the school rebuilt, using the preserved surviving exterior.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Home of the Travellers Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Hillsborough County Public Schools
  2. ^ a b "Lee Elementary School of Technology/World Studies". Seminole Heights Patch — Patch.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  3. ^ State Library and Archives of Florida. "Robert E. Lee Elementary School at 305 E. Columbus Drive in the Tampa Heights Historic District". Florida Memory. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  4. ^ "Students urge board to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary in Tampa". Tampa Bay Times. July 29, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "Renewed calls to rename Tampa Heights school honoring Robert E. Lee". WTSP. June 16, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  6. ^ "Hillsborough school official moves to rename Robert E. Lee school". WTSP. June 19, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Robert E. Lee Elementary Take II". Tampa Bay Times. June 26, 2017. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  8. ^ "Flames consume Robert E. Lee Elementary in Tampa Heights". Tampa Bay Times. September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Lee Elementary, rich with history and contradictions, will move to another school". Tampa Bay Times. September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  10. ^ "School board votes to rebuild Lee Elementary Magnet School". WFLA TV. October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.

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