Tyler, TX — People are still talking about whether the name of Robert E. Lee High school should be changed or not.
Through records obtained this week by the Tyler Morning Telegraph, we learned band and baseball uniforms are going to be replaced regardless of the decision by the time the new campus is completed in 2021.
The cost of replacing uniforms and items used by athletes and in the performing arts programs was represented as hundreds of thousands of dollars in the cost analysis presented to the Tyler ISD board members in may.
Those numbers might not be 100% accurate.
According to the TISD superintendent, Marty Crawford, replacing uniforms is based on a schedule.
Many of them would be scheduled for replacement before the completion of construction.
The cost analysis is an estimate of how much it would cost to immediately replace the items, but it would be significantly lower if it was done during the normal replacement cycle.
For many students, what matters is what the name represents and the affect it can have on them and their extracurricular activities.
Quotes from students:
"At competitions and ceremonies when I am called by Robert E. Lee and when I have to represent Robert E. Lee, I have people approach me wondering why I support him and what he stood for."
"I am a member of Tyler Lee's orchestra, Tyler Lee's Theater, and musical theater, and Tyler Lee's Young Democrat. Notice my use of Tyler Lee."
"And I am embarrassed that the name is under my name on the track and field roster at my university."
"When I cross the finish line in a jersey that says Robert E. Lee and they announce our winner, Haftu Knight for Robert E. Lee, I feel ashamed. I feel owned. I feel all of the history in that moment."