1980s

Created for the Metz 90th anniversary celebrations, this poster outlines the history of Metz and its community during the 1980s.

Picture of the Metz Staff in 1980 

Visit by the Austin School Superintendent in January, 1981

This newspaper clipping was published in the Austin American Statesman. 

John Ellis, the Austin school Superintendent visited the Metz school in January of 1981. The teachers offered him treats, including nachos, during his visit. Ellis’ main goal during the visit was to observe the Metz’s first grade bilingual classes. At his visit Ellis exclaimed that Metz’s “school’s bilingual program is one of the finest in the country.” 

Cesar Chavez’s Visit to Metz in 1987 

This newspaper clipping was published in Austin American Statesman.

The Metz school welcome that Chavez received overwhelmed and amazed him. Students marched around the school to show their support for Chavez’s fight against pesticides. Around 50 Metz fifth and sixth graders also sang tribute to Cesar Chavez. At the time, students had been boycotting grapes in the school cafeteria. The Metz population in 1987 was 99.99% Hispanic, this aspect of the Metz school moved Chavez.  

Metz is Gifted Instruments by the Austin Area Pawn Broker Association in December, 1988

This newspaper clipping is an article from James E. Garcia, Austin American Statesman.

In December of 1988, members of the Austin Area Pawn Broker Association gifted Metz students musical instruments from Austin shops. The musical instruments, ranging from trumpets to violins, were given to the Metz orchestra and school band. The donations were brought about when these pawn brokers heard about Metz's struggle to fund their orchestra and band programs. The Band Aid program was devised at the time, with the goal of providing Metz free instruments. The principal at the time, Jorge Luis Rodriguez, said “most students could not participate in the school’s band program because they could not afford instruments. The donated instruments will assure full participation in the music program, which added an orchestra this year. Fifty-seven 6th graders participated in this year’s program. There were 17 members last year.” Rodriguez exclaimed further that students with raw musical talent and potential were allowed to keep their instruments. The Band Aid program was responsible for replacing these instruments. 

The new instruments were used at the 1988 Christmas program, with the members of the Austin Area Pawn Broker Association in the crowd. The students performed “Jingle Bells”, “Silent Night”, “Allegro”, etc. The students' performance was a way to show gratefulness towards the pawn brokers.

1988 Preschool Class 

This image showcases the Metz 1988, Preschool class. Jorge Luis Rodriguez, is pictured with the class. 

Metz is Gifted Furniture by Austin’s Texwood Furniture in September, 1989

This newspaper article is by Scott W. Wright of the American Statesmen.

In September of 1989, the Metz library was gifted new furniture from an East Austin firm. Ruben Acosta and Epifano Sandoval, both Metz alumnae at the time, delivered furniture to Metz with eight other employees from Texwood Furniture. The furniture was about $5,000 worth and included new wooden furnishings for the Metz library. The company was able to donate this furniture through the Adopt-A-School program. The librarian at the time, Patricia Kaplan, was ecstatic. Kaplan exclaimed that the new furniture would inspire Metz students to learn, and she would no longer have to “make do.” She said, “It will give the kids pride in their surroundings.” 

The furniture included “bookshelves, card catalog units, a magazine rack, and dictionary stand.” The principal at the time, Jorge Luis Rodriguez, was overwhelmed with appreciation. He exclaimed, “the new furnishings would instill pride in the students, who have yet to use the library this year. It had to be moved this summer from the 73-year-old building’s second floor because engineers feared weakened wooden beams in the floor would collapse under the weight of the books. The relocation will be completed Monday. We are so used to settling for second, third and fourth best at this school that when we get a gift like this, I’m not really quite sure how to say thank you.” Lewis exclaimed that when she toured the school’s library, the entirety of the furniture was leftovers made by their company 20 years prior. 

The president of Texwood Furniture, Carolyn Lewis, spoke upon the company's decision to donate to Metz, “It is largely Hispanic and our work force is about 90 percent Hispanic. When we found out that some of our employees had attended Metz or had children going there, it seemed like the perfect school.” 

Possiblity of Metz Elementary School Replacement 

These newspaper articles were published in 1989. 

This first article is an editorial, possibly from the Statesman, highlighting the possible replacement of Boone Elementary. The author expands upon this issue by explaining that if Boone is replaced, Metz ought to be next. Austin School Board members were voting the next day upon leasing a new school in Travis County. If this voting passed in favor, Boone Elementary would likely be replaced, followed by Metz Elementary.

The second article is a feature story from local Hispanic newspaper La Prensa that details how Metz, like Boone, was overcrowded and in need of repair. Jorge Luis Rodriguez, the Metz principal at the time, exclaimed, "Funds have been incumbered for additional repairs which will see us through the next 3-5 years we will be in this building even if construction of a new school is authorized soon."