By Elaine Marsilio
Texas Insider Report: CORPUS CHRISTI Texas Carroll Lane 5th-grader Patrick Vogt helped dig into CCISDs future Monday during a groundbreaking for the new Mary Helen Berlanga Elementary School. The 11-year-old student council president said he feels proud to be a part of the beginnings of a school that combines Carroll Lane & Casa Linda students.
It just makes me feel happy inside" said Patrick who plans to go to Hamlin Middle School next year.
Patrick was one of about 100 students teachers administrators trustees and community members who attended the event to mark the start of work on the new school which is being built at the old Carroll Lane site at 4120 Carroll Lane.
The old school is in the process of being demolished to make way for the new school which is scheduled to open next year.
The Berlanga school is part of the Corpus Christi Independent School Districts $192 million 2008 bond program.
Mondays event also honored
Berlanga a longtime State Board of Education member for whom the school is named after. Berlanga said the school represents the strong belief her parents had in education.
She said she will do everything she can to make the school feel like a home for its 700 to 750 students.
I want this school to be spectacular" she said.
Kati Medina 8 a Casa Linda third-grader didnt attend Mondays event but said she is looking forward to having a new school. But shes also going to miss Casa Linda the school she has attended since she was in kindergarten.
Carroll Lane parent Jeannette Garcia said the new school will be safer because it doesnt have the outside breezeways like the original Carroll Lane school and the Lexington Elementary site which now is housing Carroll Lane students.
Everything is brand new crisp clean" she said.
Parent Audra Obregon said the school also will bring value to the neighborhood.
Superintendent Scott Elliff said the new school shows the communitys investment in the districts schools.
He said the new Hicks Elementary which opened in September is an example of how such an investment pays off. Students there have a high attendance rate which officials believe is mainly because of the school itself.
The learning environment does matter" Elliff said.
