Brackenridge High School - La Retama Yearbook (San Antonio, TX)

Page 9 text:

 Attendance zones set for high schools Perhaps the biggest change of the year was the establishment of high school attendance zones, which was brought about by a Department of Health, Education, and Welfare order. HEW charged the San Antonio Independent School District had not met federal guidelines on desegregation through its “freedom of choice” plan at the high school level, and ordered the district to come up with a plan to desegregate or face loss of federal government dollars. The board complied by setting up attendance zones for high school students. It also developed a plan to more fully integrate faculties. HEW denied freedom of choice, because it had not stopped isolation of racial and ethnic groups in a few schools. Brackenridge lost about 200 in total population and ten faculty in the attendance zone shuffle. LEFT: Principal George W. Mahan points out Brack’s attendance zone boundaries on city map. BELOW: A former member of Burbank High School’s Orange Jackets who was rezoned into the Brack area, waits for a conference with the vice principal to see if there is any way she can go back to Burbank. 5

Page 8 text:

'Multiple change’ is symbol of 1969-70 For the past half-century or so there has always been a George W. Brackenridge High School in San Antonio. In the years from 1916 to 1970, Brack has undergone many changes—students and teachers, buildings and grounds, subjects and programs—that altered this school. This sense of change has been noted everywhere this year: up and down the halls, in the offices and classrooms, throughout the campus. No matter where the student was he could feel new happenings all around. In 1969-70 change was marked by a bus strike; redistricting of students; new vocational, language, and history courses; and new opportunities to become more advanced in life. With these new ideas, Brackenridge almost seems to be a whole new school. There is an exception: the ideas and forms that have been since the beginning. TOP: Among changes following re-zoning came Brack stickers being added to rear windows of cars to which stickers had already been affixed—hopefully showing a change of loyalties. ABOVE: Paul Smith, Richard Garcia, Thomas Wytoscsyk, and Allen Ritchie (L-R) “discuss” their new scholastic home—Brackenridge. 4

Page 10 text:

Computer ends 'regis-rush’ ABOVE: Like many Brackites who came prepared for the annual “registration rush,” Josephine (L) and Bernadine Castillo were pleasantly surprised by the computerized scheduling of classes which took the “rush” out of “signing up.” RIGHT: Mrs. Ester Fuller, counselor for the business-technical unit, explains why no schedule changes can be made until after all students have registered. MIDDLE RIGHT: Dean J. D. Brown (foreground) discusses a schedule conflict with Elvira Cervantes (R) as Dean Allen D. Dockery answers a question brought up by Betty Pecina. FAR RIGHT TOP: Members of the Purple Jackets line up in book room prior to registration to help with the distribution of texts. FAR RIGHT BOTTOM: Purple Jacket, Josie Montez (L), helps two new Brackites, Jesse Ortega (C) and Roy Granado, find their way through the crowded halls during August registration. 6