Lee Elementary School of Technology World Studies2 2014

Lee Elementary School of Technology World3 Studies 2014

Lee Elementary School of Technology/ World Studies was a historic

elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. It was established as Michigan Avenue Grammar School in 1906.Home of the Travellers
Hillsborough County Public Schools It became Robert E. Lee Elementary School in 1943 when Michigan Avenue was renamed Columbus Drive (Tampa). The school was located at 305 East Columbus Drive and was the first brick school building constructed in

Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County is located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metrop ...

. 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 Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Nort ...

's horse

Traveller Traveler(s), traveller(s), The Traveler(s), or The Traveller(s) may refer to: People Generic terms *One engaged in travel *Explorer, one who searches for the purpose of discovery of information or resources *Nomad, a member of a community withou ...

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

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