Kind of. I found these two (1 2) articles about the naming of the new high school and middle school at Ribelin Ranch. The high school is named after Lt. Vandegrift. I think the LISD website can do a better job of telling the news.
Board Names Vandegrift High School & Four Points Middle School
The Leander ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their June 19, 2008 meeting to name LISD High School #5 “Lt. Matthew Vandegrift High School.” LISD Middle School #7 has been named “Four Points Middle School.”
Lt. Matthew Ryan Vandegrift – a Leander High School honors graduate (Class of 1999) and athlete – was killed in Iraq in April 2008. First Lt. Vandegrift graduated from Texas A&M University with honors and a degree in international business, before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in August 2005. He was killed just four days past his 28th birthday.
Lt. Vandegrift grew up in the Steiner Ranch subdivision — very near this new high school — and was an honor graduate at both the high school and college level. He participated in extracurricular activities, and demonstrated the highest character, plus a devotion to service demonstrated by the fact that he volunteered to defend the ideals of our great nation.
So there you have it. I got some emails from readers who would like another name for the high school. If you are or are not one of those people then there is a petition/survey going around trying to get a feel of the the name of the High School. Check out this link for that.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Steiner Res // Jun 25, 2008 at 10:39 am
I can’t believe (though I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me) that the naming is controversial. I don’t know the family, and have never served in the military, so I have no predisposed view. Why wouldn’t we want a school name that stands for something (and someone who grew up in the area) instead of one named after a geographic feature or compass point?
2 J. Scott Anderson // Jun 25, 2008 at 1:03 pm
“I think the LISD website can do a better job of telling the news.
I agree and think that there is a story for you to explore. The LISD website certainly does not use modern approaches to web site design for usability.
3 Kathryn Grier // Jun 26, 2008 at 10:45 am
Considering we only lost Lt. Vandegrift a few months ago, it doesn’t seem terribly odd to see that there’s controversy surrounding naming an entire high school after him. I think more time should have passed before even considering it. There will be other high schools. Sadly there will also be other soldiers. What about them? Will their sacrifices we less meaningful? Can’t we honor him (and them) another way? I don’t like this at all…
4 Anonymous // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I agree. Without sounding ungrateful, what about all the other soldiers who have died in the war. Maybe a more meaningful name - which honors all those who have died in the wars - would be better. What happens when a second Leander ISD soldier (God forbid) dies, are you going to name another school in his/her name? What about all the folks who are serving in the army and are deployed out there? Shouldn’t consideration be given to them as well. How long will this keep going on? Also consideration should be given to folks who have contributed to Leander ISD. Anyway you state this, there will be opposing views.
5 Melissa // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I tend to agree. While I’m sure he was a fine man, it makes it seem as though his loss was greater than all the other soldiers who have given their lives in this war or any other, for that matter. I think they should all be honored somehow.
6 Steiner Res // Jun 26, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Amazing how people are getting this worked up about a school name, when no one seems to get involved on issues that really matter for the district and our kids.
7 Buddy // Jun 26, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Steiner Res, Amen! How about devoting some time and energy to the traffic issues and maybe even say, the education our kids will be getting at this new high school rather than the image a name will project.
8 Survivor // Jul 2, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I should think we would be proud to remember this fine soldier and his sacrifice. Of course not every person will have a building named after them. Don’t be silly. There are a number of buildings named after teachers as well: does not having a building named after oneself diminish one’s contributions? Of course not. I so wish the energy that goes into these unimportant “controversies” could be harnessed productively…how about volunteering in a shelter to help the homeless or battered? Let’s just all appreciate the wonderful blessings we have and use our energy to help those who are less fortunate than we.
9 Captain // Jul 17, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Unbelievable! I am shocked that anyone would object to naming a school after someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that all of you silly people can even have a pointless argument about the name of a school. Some of you ungreatful air bags just like hearing the sounds of your voices and would rather voice your opinion on every point rather than actually getting out and channeling your energy on topics that really matter. I think that it is the least that we could do to honor the Soldier, the surviving family members, and the other Soldiers who are still following orders and crossing the wire accross enemy lines every day. I agree with Buddy, we should channel our focus on more important matters other than bickering about what to name a school.
10 homefly // Jul 17, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Matt Vandegrift wasn’t the only soldier from our community, nor the first, to die in Iraq. Currently, the aggrieved family of the first soldier to die in Iraq, Spc Matthew Troy Morris, is saddened that their son’s sacrifice is being ignored - and actually denigrated, during the process of naming this new high school. How should we respond to them? We should rethink naming this new high school after just ONE soldier, and try our best to set this right and honor all of the equally. This is no time to be throwing salt on the wound of a family who just sacrificed their son for our country.
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